 |
Studies to Boost Success of Virgin Coconut OilMANILA PHILIPPINES - Philippine scientists are conducting in-depth studies nf virgin coconut oil (VCO) products to further develop VCO's potential, and to sustain its competitiveness and success in the local and international markets.
VCO is found effective for treating various health conditions including asthma, ingestion, diarrhea, indigestion, and even human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Studies have also shown that VCO have anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties that help fight against diseases. "This research will provide some of the much needed technical information for virgin coconut oil (VCO) and suggest measures in support of empirically-based quality assurance to upgrade the VCO industry, and the coconut industry as a whole", said research leader Dr. Fabian Dayrit, dean of the School of Science and Engineering of the Ateneo de Manila University (AdeMU). The increasing consumer demand for virgin coconut oil led to the "revival" of the Philippines' coconut industry. Last year, coconut exports rose 14 percent, from $390 million to $445.7 million, according to the Philippine Coconut Authority. The Philippines currently faces competition from other countries that are also producing VCO, such as Thailand, China, the Carribbean, and even the US. Thus, the challenge is for the Philippines to differentiate its VCO products in international markets by defining the products' quality assurance standards based on scientific data, according to Dayrit. Researchers at the National Chemistry Instrumentation Center (NCIC) of the AdeMU led by Dayrit are combining advanced techniques - such as Phosphorus Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry - with classical chemical methods to test various VCO products produced by different processes such as low-heating, cold-pressed, fermentation, centrifuged and enzymatic. The Ateneo de Manila University is working hand-in-hand with the Philippines' Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in carrying out the virgin coconut oil research. 3/28/06 Source: Department of Science and Technology
Top of Virgin Coconut Oil News
|
