Virgin Coconut Oil Accelerates Wound Healing: A Systematic Review

  • Eliza Arman Universitas Andalas
  • Almahdy Almahdy Universitas Andalas
  • Putri Dafriani Universitas Syedza Saintika
  • Dedy Almasdy Universitas Andalas
Keywords: anti-inflammatory, topical, VCO, wound healing

Abstract

Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) has been shown to have significant therapeutic benefits for skin wound healing, primarily due to its anti-inflammatory effects, ability to stimulate tissue regeneration, and potent antioxidant properties. This review analyzes the available research exploring the relationship between VCO and its impact on wound healing. A comprehensive search was conducted using the Medline database via PubMed and Scopus to identify relevant studies published between 1970 and March 2023. The main inclusion criteria were original articles written in English that evaluated wound healing in in vivo skin models using topically applied VCO. The search initially yielded 689 articles, but only 4 articles met these criteria. These studies addressed various types of wounds, including excisional, burn, and diabetic wounds. All four studies demonstrated positive outcomes, showing that VCO promotes skin wound healing. The oil’s anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties were identified as key contributors to its role in enhancing the wound healing process.

References

Abujazia, M. A., Muhammad, N., Shuid, A. N., & Soelaiman, I. N. (2012). The effects of virgin coconut oil on bone oxidative status in ovariectomised rat. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/525079

Ahmad, H. I., Li, H., Al-Rawi, S. S., Majid, A. S. A., Al-Habib, O. A., Xia, X., Majid, A. M. A., & Ji, D. (2017). Angiogenic and wound healing potency of fermented virgin coconut oil: In vitro and in vivo studies. Am J Transl Res.

Ariffin, N. H. M., & Hasham, R. (2016). Potential dermatological application on Asian plants. Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering, 21(3), 337–354. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12257-015-0750-4

Arndt, S., Unger, P., Wacker, E., Shimizu, T., Heinlin, J., Li, Y. F., et al. (2013). Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) changes gene expression of key molecules of the wound healing machinery and improves wound healing in vitro and in vivo. Plos One, 8(11).

Bao, P., Kodra, A., Tomic-Canic, M., Golinko, M. S., Ehrlich, H. P., & Brem, H. (2009). The role of vascular endothelial growth factor in wound healing. J Surg Res, 153, 347–358.

Cho, Y.-H., Chung, I.-K., Cheon, W.-H., Lee, H.-S., & Ku, S.-K. (2011). Effect of DHU001, a polyherbal formula on formalin-induced paw chronic inflammation of mice. Toxicological Research, 27(2), 95–102.

Faten Khorshid, S. S. (2010). Plectranthus tenuiflorus (Shara) promotes wound healing: In vitro and in vivo studies. International Journal of Botany, 69–80.

Famurewa, A. C., Aja, P. M., Maduagwuna, E. K., Ekeleme-Egedigwe, C. A., Ufebe, O. G., & Azubuike-Osu, S. O. (2017). Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of virgin coconut oil supplementation abrogate acute chemotherapy oxidative nephrotoxicity induced by anticancer drug methotrexate in rats. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & Pharmacotherapie, 96, 905–911.

Gallego-Muñoz, P., Ibares-Frías, L., Valsero-Blanco, M. C., Cantalapiedra-Rodriguez, R., Merayo-Lloves, J., & Martínez-García, M. C. (2017). Effects of TGFβ1, PDGF-BB, and bFGF on human corneal fibroblasts proliferation and differentiation during stromal repair. Cytokine, 96, 94–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cyto.2017.03.011

Gerin, F., Erman, H., Erboga, M., Sener, U., Yilmaz, A., Seyhan, H., & Gurel, A. (2016). The effects of ferulic acid against oxidative stress and inflammation in formaldehyde-induced hepatotoxicity. Inflammation, 39(4), 1377–1386.

Groeber, F., Holeiter, M., Hampel, M., Hinderer, S., & Schenke-Layland, K. (2011). Skin tissue engineering—in vivo and in vitro applications. Adv Drug Deliv Rev, 63, 352.

Ham, J. R., Lee, H. I., Choi, R. Y., Sim, M. O., Seo, K. I., & Lee, M. K. (2016). Anti-steatotic and anti-inflammatory roles of syringic acid in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. Food and Function, 7(2), 689–697.

Hayatullina, Z., Muhammad, N., Mohamed, N., & Soelaiman, I. N. (2012). Virgin coconut oil supplementation prevents bone loss in osteoporosis rat model. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 10, 1–8.

Hong, J. P., & Park, S. W. (2014). The combined effect of recombinant human epidermal growth factor and erythropoietin on full-thickness wound healing in diabetic rat model. Int Wound J, 11, 373–378.

Illam, S. P., Narayanankutty, A., Kandiyil, S. P., & Raghavamenon, A. C. (2021). Variations in natural polyphenols determine the anti-inflammatory potential of virgin coconut oils. J Food Science.

Intahphuak, S., Khonsung, P., & Panthong, A. (2010). Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activities of virgin coconut oil. Pharmaceutical Biology, 48(2), 151–157.

Jansen, S., Yuandani, Y., Meliala, D. I. P., Margata, L., & Satria, D. (2019). The activity of hydrolyzed virgin coconut oil to increase proliferation and cyclooxygenase-2 expression towards on NIH 3T3 cell line in wound healing process. Open Access Maced J Med Sci.

Johnson, K. E., & Wilgus, T. A. (2014). Vascular endothelial growth factor and angiogenesis in the regulation of cutaneous wound repair. Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle), 3, 647–661.

Meliala, D. I. P., Silalahi, J., Yuandani, Y., Margata, L., & Satria, D. (2019). The role of coconut oil to increase expression of MMP-9, PDGF-BB, and TGF-β1 in NIH-3T3 cell line. Open Access Maced J Med Sci, 7(22), 3733–3736. https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2019.492

Nevin, K. G., & Rajamohan, T. (2010). Effect of topical application of virgin coconut oil on skin components and antioxidant status during dermal wound healing in young rats. Skin Pharmacol Physiol, 23, 290–297.

Nair, S. S., Manalil, J. J., Ramavarma, S. K., Suseela, I. M., Thekkepatt, A., & Raghavamenon, A. C. (2016). Virgin coconut oil supplementation ameliorates cyclophosphamide-induced systemic toxicity in mice. Human & Experimental Toxicology, 35(2), 205–212.

Pereira, R. F., & Bartolo, P. J. (2013). Traditional therapies for skin wound healing. Advances in Wound Care.

Peng-Hui, W., Huang, B. S., Horng, H. C., Yeh, C. C., & Chen, Y. J. (2018). Wound healing. J Chin Med Assoc, 81(2), 94–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcma.2017.11.002

Teng, H., Zhang, Z. G., Wang, L., Zhang, R. L., Zhang, L., Morris, D., Gregg, S. R., Wu, Z., Jiang, A., Lu, M., Zlokovic, B. V., & Chopp, M. (2008). Coupling of angiogenesis and neurogenesis in cultured endothelial cells and neural progenitor cells after stroke. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab, 28, 764–771.

Vysakh, A., Ratheesh, M., Rajmohanan, T. P., Pramod, C., Premlal, S., Girishkumar, B., & Sibi, P. I. (2014). Polyphenolics isolated from virgin coconut oil inhibits adjuvant induced arthritis in rats through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action. International Immunopharmacology, 20(1), 124–130.

Published
2025-01-04
How to Cite
Arman, E., Almahdy, A., Dafriani, P., & Almasdy, D. (2025). Virgin Coconut Oil Accelerates Wound Healing: A Systematic Review. Indonesian Journal of Global Health Research, 7(1), 759-766. https://doi.org/10.37287/ijghr.v7i1.4545