Virgin Coconut Oil Protects Against Dolutegravir-induced Toxicity in Wistar Albino Rats

Abstract Virgin Coconut oil is known for its health and therapeutic benefits and is exploited because of its ability to scavenge free radicals. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of virgin coconut oil on dolutegravir-induced organ toxicity in Wistar albino rats. Fifteen healthy Wistar Albino rats were allotted into five groups of three animals each. Animals in the negative control group were administered normal saline, while those in group two had dolutegravir (10 mg/kg oral) daily for 28 days. Rats in groups three, four, and five received dolutegravir (10 mg/kg) plus virgin coconut oil (5, 10, and 15 ml/kg), respectively. All treatments were administered once daily for twenty-eight days. Twenty-four hours after the last dose, the animals were sacrificed, and blood samples were collected for hematological, lipid profile, and biochemical analysis, while the liver of each animal was harvested and processed for histological analysis. Administration of virgin coconut oil in the presence of dolutegravir caused an initial insignificant decrease (P > 0.05) in alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels compared to Dolutegravir alone. We found that White and Red blood cell counts increased in the groups receiving virgin coconut oil compared to animals in the control group (dolutegravir only). Virgin coconut oil, in the presence of dolutegravir, decreased levels of triglycerides and increased levels of high-density lipoproteins. Serum creatinine and urea were observed to decrease in the group co-administered dolutegravir and virgin coconut oil. The oil showed protective effects against dolutegravir-induced histological changes in the liver tissue of rats. It can be concluded that virgin coconut oil protected the liver as well as the kidney from dolutegravir-induced toxicity.