New Drug Development strategies with special reference to the endocarp of multifaceted agriculture crop – Cocos nucifera Linn

Abstract

Coconut shell botanically represents the hard endocarp from the fruit of Cocos nucifera Linn. It is the usually discarded part of the plant with folklore claim in metabolic disorders.Being an inexpensive and easily availablenatural product with ethno medicinal significance, it seems highly relevant to scientifically validate the pharmaceutical implications of the drug. Till date, the new drug development strategies based on quality and efficacy parameters for the crude drug sample of Coconut shell has not been developed. The present study was intended to develop and scientifically validate the quality, purity, safety, potency and efficacy parameters of Coconut shell and thereby exploring the new drug development strategies for the drug. Materials andmethods: The study focused on the screening ofCoconut shell based on macroscopic, microscopic, organoleptic, histo-chemicaland HPTLC studies. Results:Characteristic presence of thin walled fibres, fibrosclereids,lignins and tannins were observed in themicroscopic analysis of Coconut shell. HPTLC studies also exemplifiedthe detailed bioactive chemical profile of Coconut shell.Conclusion: The study outcome suggestsCoconut shell as a novel reliable source of bioactive phytoconstituents with broad prospective in new drug development process.