Ethnomedicine, improved traditional medicine from Cocos nucifera water and evaluation of antibacterial activity on four bacterial strains in Center, Cameroon

Previous studies have demonstrated that coconut water has antibacterial and antifungal activities.

“Indeed, previous studies have demonstrated that coconut water has antibacterial and antifungal activities, as in Benin (Dougnon et al. 2017).”

• cites Dougnon et al. 2017 sourcePartly supported

  The Results table on plants used against animal salmonellosis lists coconut water as a remedy reported in Southern Benin. It does not report a study demonstrating antibacterial or antifungal activity of coconut water; the Discussion’s antibacterial findings concern other plants. No page number is available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.84)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Fatty acids (oleic acid, etc.) inhibit A. baumannii.

“Fatty acids (oleic acid, etc.) inhibit A. baumannii (Khadke et al. 2021).”

• cites Khadke et al. 2021 sourcePartly supported

  Results §3.1 reports that oleic acid and several other fatty acids inhibited A. baumannii biofilm formation. The unqualified claim overstates this finding: the same section says the tested acids did not inhibit planktonic bacterial growth at the biofilm-inhibiting concentration of 20 μg/mL. (LLM, conf=0.88)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

When a bacterium is inhibited or killed at ciprofloxacin MICs greater than 1 μg/mL, this indicates that this bacterium is resistant to ciprofloxacin MICs less than 1 μg/mL.

“When a bacteria is inhibited or killed at ciprofloxacin MICs greater than 1 µg/mL, this indicates that this bacteria is resistant to ciprofloxacin MICs less than 1 µg/mL (Grillon et al. 2016).”

• cites Grillon et al. 2016 sourcePartly supported

  Table 1 in Materials and Methods (MICs measurements; page unavailable) gives species-specific ciprofloxacin breakpoints: 0.5–1 mg/L for K. pneumoniae and 1–2 mg/L for P. aeruginosa and S. maltophilia (1 mg/L equals 1 μg/mL). The Discussion reports that bactericidal activity generally decreases as MIC rises, but the paper does not say that every isolate with an MIC above 1 μg/mL is categorically resistant, or describe resistance as being ‘to MICs less than 1 μg/mL.’ (LLM, conf=0.86)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

For S. dysenteriae, fatty acids, including lauric acid, interact with certain proteins to abolish their transcription and promotion activities.

“Specifically for S. dysenteriae, fatty acids, including lauric acid, interact with certain proteins to abolish their transcription and promotion activities (Trirocco et al. 2023).”

• cites Trirocco et al. 2023 sourcePartly supported

  The Discussion reports that lauric acid and other fatty acids bind VirF and limit its interaction with the virB promoter. However, the Results identify the tested bacterium as S. flexneri M90T; the paper does not establish this effect specifically in S. dysenteriae. (LLM, conf=0.88)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

These bacteria are increasingly resistant to conventional antibiotics.

“These bacteria are increasingly resistant to conventional antibiotics (Maertens de Noordhout et al. 2017;Agnieszka and Katarzyna 2018).”

• cites Maertens de Noordhout et al. 2017 sourceCould not verify

  The Introduction identifies the bacteria and describes their infections, while the Conclusion discusses projected disease incidence in Belgium; neither addresses antibiotic resistance. Searches for increasing antibiotic resistance and antimicrobial-resistance trends found no passage supporting the attributed claim. (LLM, conf=0.72)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
• cites Agnieszka and Katarzyna 2018Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Regardless of the subdivisions, constipation and stomachaches have the greatest incidence.

“Regardless of the subdivisions, constipation and stomachaches have the greatest incidence (Figure 1).”

Women were in the majority among informants, with 42 (55.27%) versus men 34 (44.73%).

“Regardless of the department, women were in the majority, with a total of 42 or 55.27%, than men, with 34 or 44.73%.”

Coconut water is mainly used in the study area to treat digestive disorders (stomachaches and constipation).

“These results reflect that coconut water is mainly used in the study area to treat digestive disorders (stomachaches and constipation).”

CWC presents a zone of inhibition with A. baumannii with a value of 10 mm.

“In comparison, it presents a zone of inhibition with the bacterial strain A. baumannii with a value of 10 mm.”

Coconut water has traditional antibacterial uses in Center, Cameroon.

“In conclusion, the initial hypothesis confirms that coconut water has traditional antibacterial uses in Center, Cameroon, and improved traditional antibacterial medicine (ITM) has been made from this water.”

S. enteritidis and S. dysenteriae show a MIC of 0.25 μL/mL to the CWC extract.

“Indeed, S. enteritidis and S. dysenteriae, respectively, show a MIC of 0.25 µL/mL, were much more sensitive to the CWC extract.”

The pre-formulation of coconut water as medicated syrup is real.

“The results show that the pre-formulation of coconut water as medicated syrup is real (Table 3).”

Regardless of the bacterial strain, the reference antibiotic CIP shows the largest zone of inhibition (36 mm).

“Regardless of the bacterial strain, it is observed that the reference antibiotic (CIP) shows the largest zone of inhibition (36 mm) (Table 4).”

CWC does not present any zone of inhibition (00 mm) with E. coli, S. dysenteriae, and S. enteritidis.

“Regarding the extracts used, CWC (Coco water cure) does not present any zone of inhibition (00 mm) with three strains (E.coli, S. dysenteriae and S. enteritidis).”

In liquid media, of the four bacterial strains tested, only S. enteritidis and S. dysenteriae were sensitive to the CWC extract.

“Table 5 on the 3 (CWC, COV Med and HA) and reference antibiotic (CIP) show that of the four (4) bacterial strains tested, only two (2) of them (S.enteritidis and S. dysenteriae) were sensitive.”

All bacterial strains tested on the reference antibiotic have an identical MIC and MBC value of 3.96 μg/mL.

“In addition, all the bacterial strains tested on the reference antibiotic have an identical MIC and CMB value (3.96 µg/mL).”

Only S. enteritidis and S. dysenteriae were observable in a MIC and MBC of 0.25 μg/mL with the antibacterial ITM extract.

“Only the bacteria S. enteritidis and S. dysenteriae were observable in a MIC and MBC of 0.25 µg/mL with the antibacterial ITM extract; therefore, C. nucifera water of Center, Cameroon is eligible for research into new antibiotics.”

Improved traditional antibacterial medicine (ITM) has been made from coconut water.

“In conclusion, the initial hypothesis confirms that coconut water has traditional antibacterial uses in Center, Cameroon, and improved traditional antibacterial medicine (ITM) has been made from this water.”

The evaluation of the antibacterial activity of this ITM on four bacterial strains (A. baumannii, E. coli, S. enteritidis and S. dysenteriae) shows an effect on two of them.

“The evaluation of the antibacterial activity of this ITM on four bacterial strains (A.baumannii, E. coli, S. enteritidis and S. dysenteriae) shows an effect on two of them.”

Sodium benzoate as a preservative has made it possible to preserve a traditional preparation based on medicinal plants in the long term.

“Recently, the use of sodium benzoate as a preservative has made it possible to preserve a traditional preparation based on medicinal plants in the long term (Lamy et al. 2023).”

• cites Lamy et al. 2023Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Women in the study area have more knowledge than men about the coconut water's antibacterial uses in traditional medicine.

“These results reflect that women in the study area have more knowledge than men about the coconut water's antibacterial uses in traditional medicine.”

In Center, Cameroon, traditional preparations have been transformed into Improved Traditional Medicine (ITM) syrups.

“However, in the Center, Cameroon, such information has recently been the subject of transformation of traditional preparations into easily accessible Improved Traditional Medicine (ITM) syrups (Lamy et al. 2023).”

• cites Lamy et al. 2023Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

The results of the antibacterial ITM from coconut water of Center, Cameroon, on these strains indicate that this water is eligible for research into new antibiotics.

“The results of the antibacterial ITM from coconut water of Center, Cameroon, on these strains, indicate that this water is eligible for research into new antibiotics.”

• Also stated in: § Sensitivity tests in liquid media · plain

  “Only the bacteria S. enteritidis and S. dysenteriae were observable in a MIC and MBC of 0.25 µg/mL with the antibacterial ITM extract; therefore, C. nucifera water of Center, Cameroon is eligible for research into new antibiotics.”

A. baumannii and E. coli are similar in constitution and biochemistry.

“Unlike A. baumannii and E. coli, which are similar in constitution and biochemistry (El-Housseiny et al. 2017).”

• cites El-Housseiny et al. 2017Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

CWC extract compounds would act on S. enteritidis and S. dysenteriae due to more biochemical and bacteriological similarities.

“Indeed, these CWC extract compounds would act on S. enteritidis and S. dysenteriae due to more biochemical and bacteriological similarities.”

Botanical samples were identified as C. nucifera (Arecaceae) by a botanist compared with herbarium specimen No. 67488 HNC.

“NGANSOP Eric (Botanist and Systematician) identified said samples, as C. nucifera (Arecaceae) compared with the specimen from herbarium collection No. 67488 HNC.”

The difference in structure and biological compounds may explain why only A. baumannii reacted and not the other three strains.

“This difference in their structure and biological compounds may explain why only A. baumannii reacted and not the other three strains.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: E. coli and S. dysenteriae are similar in terms of biochemical characteristics.
• AssumptionRests on an assumption: S. enteritidis differs from E. coli and S. dysenteriae regarding antigenic characteristics.

Coconut water in the syrup can be stored for 4 years.

“From the manufacturing and expiration dates on the label, we see that coconut water can be stored for 4 years.”

The active compounds in coconut water, particularly lauric acid, have an antimicrobial effect on A. baumannii by disrupting its cell membrane.

“The active compounds in coconut water, particular lauric acid, have an antimicrobial effect on A. baumannii by disrupting its cell membrane (Marion et al. 2018).”

• cites Marion et al. 2018Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Lauric acid can interfere with the bacteria's metabolic pathways, disrupting its function and survival.

“Also, lauric acid can interfere with the bacteria's metabolic pathways, disrupting its function and survival.”

The long-term conservation of the syrup was made possible thanks to the preservative.

“This long-term conservation was made possible thanks to the preservative.”

All bacterial strains tested are sensitive for a value ≤ 3.96 μg/mL of extract.

“These results reflect that all the bacterial strains tested are sensitive for a value ≤ 3.96 µg/mL of extract.”