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.