Concluding remarks
To conclude, there are research evidences to prove the antiviral effects
of coconut oil and monolaurin in animal and human subjects. However,
large scale human trials to treat COVID-19 followed by rigorous analysis
are mandatory to ascertain to the therapeutic potential of the coconut
oil and its products. Providing due credits to the virus containment and
other socio-economic measures of the local government, the successful
turnaround in the containment of COVID19 in the Indian state of Kerala
(as on 19/April/2020) is tempting us to correlate it with the
consumption of lauric acid by the population. Coconut oil is a major
dietary component in this part of the world. It would be premature to
conclude thus until a thorough epidemiological research investigating
the effects of coconut oil-derived lauric acid and reduction of viral
load in human subjects of Kerala proves it so. Furthermore, available
evidences and proven food safety of coconut oil and its derivatives
convinces us to safely conclude that the products of Cocos
nucifera L. could form a supplemental therapeutics candidate, if not
principal antiviral agent, for COVID-19.