The effect of virgin coconut oil (Vco) on the number of macrophages on post tooth extraction of wistar rats

Macrophages are known to initiate the wound healing phase, a vital role in the curative process. Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) naturally grows in Indonesia and has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-bacterial properties. This study examined VCO on the number of macrophages after extraction of Wistar rat teeth. This is a true experimental post test study with a control group design. Four groups of Wistar rats were divided randomly and the treatment group was given VCO of 1.01 ml/250 g per day (0.04/10 gr weight rats/day) per orally using feeding tubes, for 7 , 9, 11 and 13 days. The extraction of rat teeth was carried out on the eighth day. Compiling the number of macrophages: compilation was conducted on the first, third, fifth, and seventh day after the extraction. The number of macrophages on the first day after dental extraction 2 was higher in the intervention group than in the control group, but it did not show a significant difference, with p = 0.607. The third day after tooth extraction showed a significant difference in the number of macrophages with an average of 3.5 (p = 0.046). The fifth and the seventh days also had a significant difference with a smaller mean value of 2.75 (p = 0.028) and 2.5 macrophages (p = 0.028). VCO increase the number of macrophages, with the most effective dose of 1.01 ml/250 g weight of rats per day (0.04/10 gr weight of rats/day) for 9 days.