Determination of the pediculicidal activity of oil extract of cocos nucifera on pediculosis humanis capitis

Date of Completion

2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Clinical Pharmacology

Keywords

Pediculus, Cocos, Pyrethrins

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine and compare the pediculicidal activity of coconut oil against the pyrethrin. The researchers used analytic experimental research design. The pediculicidal activity of oil extract of cocos nucifera on pediculosis humanis capitis was determined, analyzed and quantified by computing the rate of outcomes and compared it to pyrethrin. The coconut oil was extracted using the boiling method. The hosts were selected through the inclusion and exclusion criteria of this study. The pediculicidal activity of the coconut oil was first assessed by comparing its activity to pyrethrin and water through the time it takes for all lice died. The second part was comparison of the number of dead lice after 15 minutes. The data was plotted and maximum efficacy and potency of the solutions were measured. The coconut oil showed efficacy of 73% and a potency of 2.31. However, this is comparatively lower than the pyrethrin. Also, the mean time of death for the lice in the coconut oil (276 seconds) is slower compared to pyrethrin (225 seconds). Although pyrethrin is more potent and efficacious, findings validated that coconut oil may be used as an alternative treatment for lice. In line with this, coconut oil was shown to be more cost-effective than pyrethrin.

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