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Cited by 22Coconut Research and ApplicationsEssential Oils and Antimicrobial ActivityOral microbiology and periodontitis research

Antibacterial efficacy of tender coconut water (Cocos nucifera L) on Streptococcus mutans: An in-vitro study

Open access
Rukmini, JN, Manasa, Sunkari, Rohini, Chenna, Sireesha, LavanyaPutchla, Ritu, Sachan, Umashankar, GK·2017·Journal of International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry
DOI 10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_275_16PMC PMC5390578
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: . MATERIALS AND METHODS: (MTCC 890) was used for determining the antibacterial effects. The test samples along with the controls were subjected to antimicrobial sensitivity test procedure and the zone of inhibition was examined. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to check for any significant differences in the antibacterial efficacy between the samples. RESULT: There was no zone of inhibition with the tender coconut water, fresh and pasteurised, and negative control (dimethyl formamide). Zone of inhibition was seen in positive control (0.2% Chlorhexidine). CONCLUSION: ).

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This in-vitro study tested fresh and pasteurized tender coconut water against *Streptococcus mutans* (MTCC 890) and found no antimicrobial activity in its natural state. The authors conclude that tender coconut water did not inhibit *S. mutans* despite containing lauric acid.

Key findings

  • The abstract reports no zone of inhibition for fresh tender coconut water, pasteurized tender coconut water, or the negative control (dimethyl formamide); only 0.2% chlorhexidine produced a zone of inhibition.
  • In the Results, mean zone-of-inhibition values were reported as positive control 60.27 ± 0.2, negative control 15.28 ± 0.1, pasteurized tender coconut water 14.23 ± 0.2, and fresh tender coconut water 3.08 ± 0.2, with a significant difference by Kruskal–Wallis test (P < 0.001).
  • The paper concludes that fresh and pasteurized tender coconut water showed no antimicrobial efficacy against *S. mutans* despite containing lauric acid.

Methods

  • In-vitro experimental study using fresh tender coconut water and pasteurized tender coconut water (63°C for 30 minutes by holding method) as test samples, dimethyl formamide as negative control, and 0.2% chlorhexidine as positive control.
  • Pure *S. mutans* strain MTCC 890 was cultured on brain heart infusion agar; 125 μl of each sample/control was dispensed into wells, incubated for 48 hours at 37°C, and zones of inhibition were examined.
  • Each concentration was tested in triplicate, and the Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare mean zones of inhibition between groups.

Limitations

  • The authors state this was merely a preliminary in-vitro study and that additional future studies are needed to identify factors affecting the chemical constituents of coconut water.
  • The authors note that coconut water chemical composition varies by coconut variety, maturity stage, soil, and environmental conditions, and suggest breeding or further screening studies.
  • Evident from the text: the abstract states no zone of inhibition for tender coconut water and negative control, while the Results report numerical mean zones for those same groups, creating an internal inconsistency in reporting.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_275_16

Cites

11 of 11 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 2 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    The mean zone of inhibition for pasteurized tender coconut water was 14.23 ± 0.2.

    “The mean values for zone of inhibition were higher with positive control (60.27 ± 0.2), followed by negative control (15.28 ± 0.1) and pasteurized tender coconut (14.23 ± 0.2), whereas it was less for fresh tender coconut (3.08 ± 0.2).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Negative control dimethyl formamide produced no zone of inhibition against Streptococcus mutans.

    “There was no zone of inhibition with the tender coconut water, fresh and pasteurised, and negative control (dimethyl formamide).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    The mean zone of inhibition for positive control (0.2% chlorhexidine) was 60.27 ± 0.2.

    “The mean values for zone of inhibition were higher with positive control (60.27 ± 0.2), followed by negative control (15.28 ± 0.1) and pasteurized tender coconut (14.23 ± 0.2), whereas it was less for fresh tender coconut (3.08 ± 0.2).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Positive control 0.2% chlorhexidine produced a zone of inhibition against Streptococcus mutans.

    “Zone of inhibition was seen in positive control (0.2% Chlorhexidine).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Fresh and pasteurized tender coconut water produced no zone of inhibition against Streptococcus mutans.

    “There was no zone of inhibition with the tender coconut water, fresh and pasteurised, and negative control (dimethyl formamide).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 6
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    The mean zone of inhibition for negative control (dimethyl formamide) was 15.28 ± 0.1.

    “The mean values for zone of inhibition were higher with positive control (60.27 ± 0.2), followed by negative control (15.28 ± 0.1) and pasteurized tender coconut (14.23 ± 0.2), whereas it was less for fresh tender coconut (3.08 ± 0.2).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Sucrose monolaurate and glycolipid component present in coconut have anti-caries properties.

    “Some studies have reported that sucrose monolaurate and glycolipid component present in coconut has anti-caries properties.[2]”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [2] DebMandal, 2011, Asian Pac J Trop Med source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductnone given

    The study was a preliminary in-vitro study.

    “This was merely a preliminary in-vitro study.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    The lack of antibacterial effect of tender coconut water against Streptococcus mutans might be because the chemical constituents of coconut water are affected by numerous factors.

    “The present study has been undertaken using TCW has not shown any antibacterial effect against S. mutans might be because of chemical constituents of coconut water are affected by numerous factors.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The study was conducted in triplicate for every concentration to overcome inadvertent technical errors.

    “This was done in triplicate for every concentration to overcome any inadvertent technical errors.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Chowdhury et al. did not find any microbial growth in thermally treated tender coconut water.

    “Chowdhury et al., who studied processing and conservation of green coconut water also did not find any microbial growth in thermally treated tender coconut water.[16]”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [16] Kathiravan, 2014, J Food Sci Technol source
6 of 6

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Studies related to antimicrobial efficacy of tender coconut water in its natural state on Streptococcus mutans are not available.

    “The studies related to antimicrobial efficacy of tender coconut water in its natural state on S. mutans are not available.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Chlorhexidine is used as a gold standard against which other antimicrobial agents are compared.

    “Chlorhexidine is used as a gold standard against which other antimicrobial agents are compared.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The antimicrobial property of coconut is because of its high lauric acid content.

    “The antimicrobial property of coconut is because of its high lauric acid content that has been used as medications for certain oral infections, e.g. mouth sores.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Tender coconut water has various general and oral health benefits without any side effects.

    “Tender coconut water is readily available, economically reasonable, and traditionally tolerable besides having various general and oral health benefits without any side effects.”
4 of 4

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Reported inhibition zones contradict the abstract

    Major

    The abstract says fresh and pasteurized tender coconut water and the negative control produced no zones of inhibition, but the Results report nonzero mean zones for all three.

1 of 1

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Subramaniam, 2012, Effect of pomegranate and aloe vera extract on Streptococcus mutans, Dent Hypothesis, 99
  2. Adolf, 2012, Potential Bacterial Health Risk Posed to Consumers of Fresh Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) Water, Food Nutr Sci, 1136
  3. Nakanoa, 2011, Coconut water processing using ultrafiltration and pasteurization.InProceeding of International Congress on Engineering and Food, National Technical University of Athens, 5
  4. Kathiravan, 2014, Pulsed electric field processing of functional drink based on tender coconut water (Cococus nucifera L.) - nannari (Hemidesmus indicus) blended beverage/Croat, J Food Sci Technol, 84

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
Rukmini, J., Manasa, S., Rohini, C., Sireesha, L., Ritu, S., & Umashankar, G.
Affiliations
  • Mathrusri Ramabai Ambedkar Dental College & Hospital (IN)
  • Dr. Syamala Reddy Dental College Hospital & Research Center (IN)
Venue
Journal of International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published
2017
Volume
7
Issue
2
Pages
130
ISSN
2231-0762 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_275_16
PMC
PMC5390578
OpenAlex
W2602340489
Semantic Scholar
c6c8d7ff8c152b9a7c7a5ca8512a593cd85e6580
Cited by
22
References
11
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4
FWCI
0.41
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc-sa
Locations
  • Journal of International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed Central (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Inorganic Chemistry › Coconut Research and Applications
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity
  • Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
Keywords
tender coconut water, Cocos nucifera, Streptococcus mutans, antibacterial activity, inhibition zone, chlorhexidine, dental caries prevention

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Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-10.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-10.

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