Skin Care Coconut Oil

Processing skin care coconut oil, particularly MCMs, will produce exportable "neutriceuticals" which is about "three to four times the price of coconut oil." The discovery on MCMs was accidental since his research on lipids prompted the him to seek coconut oil derivatives. Dr. Kabara said the discovery in the use of MCMs is "rare in the field of pharmacology wherein it contains a wide spectrum of anti-microbial properties and insecticidal properties" as well. He said that laboratory testing on MCM at the Atlanta Center for Research and Disease Control showed that the single molecule from coconut oil is non-toxic and active in treating illnesses which are already resistant to well known anti-biotics.

Dr. Kabara said the strong opposition by the US government to his findings brought about by the influence of the American Soybean Association, prompted him to urge Filipino scientists to conduct clinical testing here in the country.

According to Dr. Dayrit, the research team formed by the DoST will conduct tests on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) patients at the San Lazaro Hospital, together with infectious disease experts from the Philippine General Hospital. The team would use MCMs in treating the patients to determine its potential. Dr. Kabara said MCM has the potential of being used in the development of a vaccine for HIV.

Dr. Dayrit said that once the efficacy of MCM is verified, high-value products like neutriceuticals and drugs will be produced locally by the Industrial Technology Development Institute and United Laboratories. He said this would consequetially "redound to the benefit of the coconut industry."

Currently, Dr. Kabara said MCMs are being used commercially by European firms in the production of creams, soaps, infant's formula since their non-toxic nature is primarily beneficial to babies and young children.

Price stability is likely to elude coconut oil in the coming days if the trends in the last two years are any indication. The extreme example came last year, with coconut oil prices experiencing wide swings. A record of sorts was created for maximum price volatility in the Kochi market.

According to the Cochin Oil Merchants Association (COMA), "never in the history of coconut oil did the price go down so steeply in such a short time". The market saw maximum fluctuation during the period of January-May in the same year. The wild swings in prices have again opened the debate on the need for futures trading in coconut oil. According COMA secretary N Ananthan, "What happened in the oil market during the last two years should be an eye - opener to the government."