PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF COCONUT WATER (Cocos nucifera L.) AGAINST BACTERIA ISOLATES FROM STUDENTS URINE SAMPLES IN A UNIVERSITY COMMUITY
Open accessAbstract
Abstract Coconut is a special source of diverse natural compounds that are used in the creation of different pharmaceuticals and commercial goods that are often effective against dermatophytes, bacteria, viruses and fungi. Coconut water is high in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, carbohydrate, enzymes and phytochemicals. Research has suggested the use of coconut water in the creation of innovative antimicrobial medicines by highlighting its potential as a natural antibacterial agent against bacteria that are resistant to drugs. The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial and phytochemical properties of coconut water against bacterial isolates from students urine samples at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra state. A total of 56 urine samples were collected from students while matured Cocos nucifera (L.) samples were purchased from a local market in Anambra state. The test organisms were isolated and identified following standard laboratory procedure. Biochemical test such as indole, citrate, catalase and oxidase were performed. The phytochemical property of the coconut water was determined by testing for tannins, saponins, flavonoids, amino acid, glycosides, terpenes and steroids using the required reagents. The antimicrobial property of the coconut water was determined using agar well diffusion technique and result compared with other antibiotics disc. Twenty-six (26) test isolates were obtained and they were 17 (65%) Escherichia coli and 9 (35%) Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The phytochemical result showed that saponins, flavonoids, steroids and glycosides were detected in the coconut water sample. The coconut water exerted no antibacterial effect on all of the test isolates. The phytochemical analysis of the coconut water revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, steroids and glycosides. The coconut water sample showed no antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. Therefore coconut water cannot serve as a potential antimicrobial agent. Keywords: bacteria, coconut water, urine, hostel, phytochemicals
AI snapshot
Written from the paper’s full text.
TL;DR
This study assessed the phytochemical and antimicrobial properties of coconut water against bacteria isolated from students’ urine samples at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State. Coconut water contained saponins, flavonoids, steroids, and glycosides but showed no antibacterial effect against the 26 isolates obtained.
Key findings
- From 56 urine samples, 26 test isolates were obtained: 17 (65%) *Escherichia coli* and 9 (35%) *Pseudomonas aeruginosa*.
- Phytochemical analysis detected saponins, flavonoids, steroids, and glycosides in the coconut water sample.
- Coconut water exerted no antibacterial effect on all test isolates and showed no antimicrobial activity against *Pseudomonas aeruginosa* and *Escherichia coli*.
- The authors conclude that coconut water cannot serve as a potential antimicrobial agent.
Methods
- A total of 56 urine samples were collected from students; matured *Cocos nucifera* samples were purchased from a local market in Anambra State and identified.
- Test organisms were isolated and identified by standard laboratory procedures, with biochemical tests including indole, citrate, catalase, and oxidase.
- Phytochemical properties were tested for tannins, saponins, flavonoids, amino acid, glycosides, terpenes, and steroids; antimicrobial activity was determined using agar well diffusion and compared with antibiotic discs. Ethical approval and verbal consent were obtained.
Limitations
- The paper states no limitations in the provided text.
- Evident from the text: the findings are limited to 26 isolates of only *E. coli* and *P. aeruginosa* from urine samples at one university.
- Evident from the text: the provided text does not report zone-of-inhibition values or statistical analysis, so the basis for the “no activity” conclusion is not fully detailed.
Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
0 of 3 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged
- Findingown data§ Abstract
Coconut water showed no antimicrobial activity against the test isolates (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa).
“The coconut water exerted no antibacterial effect on all of the test isolates.”
- Also stated in: § Abstract · plain
“The coconut water sample showed no antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Also stated in: § Abstract · plain
- Findingown data§ Abstract
Steroids were detected in the coconut water sample.
“The phytochemical result showed that saponins, flavonoids, steroids and glycosides were detected in the coconut water sample.”
- Also stated in: § Abstract · plain
“The phytochemical analysis of the coconut water revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, steroids and glycosides.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Also stated in: § Abstract · plain
- Findingown data§ Abstract
Flavonoids were detected in the coconut water sample.
“The phytochemical result showed that saponins, flavonoids, steroids and glycosides were detected in the coconut water sample.”
- Also stated in: § Abstract · plain
“The phytochemical analysis of the coconut water revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, steroids and glycosides.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Also stated in: § Abstract · plain
- Findingown data§ Abstract
Saponins were detected in the coconut water sample.
“The phytochemical result showed that saponins, flavonoids, steroids and glycosides were detected in the coconut water sample.”
- Also stated in: § Abstract · plain
“The phytochemical analysis of the coconut water revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, steroids and glycosides.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Also stated in: § Abstract · plain
- Findingown data§ Abstract
Glycosides were detected in the coconut water sample.
“The phytochemical result showed that saponins, flavonoids, steroids and glycosides were detected in the coconut water sample.”
- Also stated in: § Abstract · plain
“The phytochemical analysis of the coconut water revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, steroids and glycosides.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Also stated in: § Abstract · plain
- Findingown data§ Abstract
Of the 26 test isolates, 9 (35%) were Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
“Twenty-six (26) test isolates were obtained and they were 17 (65%) Escherichia coli and 9 (35%) Pseudomonas aeruginosa.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingown data§ Abstract
Twenty-six test isolates were obtained.
“Twenty-six (26) test isolates were obtained and they were 17 (65%) Escherichia coli and 9 (35%) Pseudomonas aeruginosa.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Premisecitation§ INTRODUCTION
The development of antibiotics resistance results from the indiscriminate and widespread use of antibiotics.
“The development of antibiotics resistance results from the indiscriminate and widespread use of antibiotics (Said et al., 2021).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Said et al., 2021
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Interpretationown data§ Abstract
Coconut water cannot serve as a potential antimicrobial agent.
“Therefore coconut water cannot serve as a potential antimicrobial agent.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The coconut water sample tested is representative of coconut water generally.
- Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 3
- May combine two claims. 1
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Findingown data§ AbstractOf the 26 test isolates, 17 (65%) were Escherichia coli.
“Twenty-six (26) test isolates were obtained and they were 17 (65%) Escherichia coli and 9 (35%) Pseudomonas aeruginosa.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.
Premisecitation§ INTRODUCTIONCoconut water is high in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, hormones and phytochemicals.
“According to Bandalam and Galvez (2016), coconut water is high in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, hormones and phytochemicals.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Bandalam and Galvez (2016)
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
Premisecitation§ INTRODUCTIONWorldwide, the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in urinary pathogens is on the rise.
“Worldwide, the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in urinary pathogens is on the rise (Ekwealor et al., 2016).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Ekwealor et al., 2016
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
The paper relies on this without support.
The coconut water sample tested is representative of coconut water generally.
“Therefore coconut water cannot serve as a potential antimicrobial agent.”
No citation lists for this paper
- Authors
- Ruth Asikiya Afunwa1*, C. M. O.
- Corresponding author
- Ruth Asikiya Afunwa1*, Chisom Marycynthia Okafor2, Chukwunonso Anthony Igboko3, Martin Chukwunonso Nwofia4, Francis Ayodele Gbadamosi5, Florence Chioma Mgbodile6
- Venue
- ISRG Publishers
- Publisher
- ISRG Publishers
- Published
- 2025-01-01
- OpenAlex
- W6911605950
- Cited by
- 0
- References
- 0
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) (cc-by)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Inorganic Chemistry › Coconut Research and Applications
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Medicinal Plant Research
- Keywords
- coconut water, Cocos nucifera, phytochemical screening, antibacterial activity, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, urine isolates, university students, saponins, flavonoids, natural antimicrobials
About these checks
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 2026-10-14.
Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-14.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
