ABSTRACT:
Virgin coconut oil (VCO) has been traditionally used as moisturizer since centuries by people in the tropical region. Clinical studies have revealed that VCO improves the symptoms of skin disorders by moisturizing and soothing the skin. However, the mechanistic action of VCO and its benefits on skin has not been elucidated in vitro. The cytotoxicity (CTC) of VCO was tested in both THP-1 (Human monocytes) and HaCaT (Human keratinocytes) cells. The anti- inflammatory activity of VCO was tested with pro inflammatory cytokines TNF-a, IFN-y, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-5 by ELISA and semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The effect of VCO on aquaporin-3 (AQP3), involucrin (IVL), and filaggrin (FLG) was measured by ELISA and semi-quantitative RT- PCR respectively. The cytokines were down regulated in THP-1 cells and increased gene expression was observed for AQP3, IVL, and FLG in HaCaT cells, post treatment with VCO. The present study demonstrated the inhibitory role of VCO on inflammatory mediators that suggest its beneficial roles in suppressing inflammation associated with skin disorders and maintaining skin barrier function by enhancing gene expression of AQP3, IVL, and FLG. This study is the first to report the anti-inflammatory and skin protective benefits of VCO in vitro.