Virgin coconut oil (VCO) has traditionally been used for medicinal purposes, such as enhancing strength and controlling bleeding. Its long-standing use is supported by its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-seborrheic properties. This research aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying VCO’s anti-inflammatory and anti-seborrheic effects, particularly focusing on hair regrowth and seborrheic dermatitis (SD) by examining its ability to reduce sebum production and prevent hair loss. The study involved 50 Wistar rats divided into five groups (n=10 each): a normal control, a group induced with 0.6 % dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) at 3 mg/kg, a DNFB group treated with 5 mg/kg VCO, a DNFB group treated with 10 mg/kg VCO, and a normal group treated with 10 mg/kg VCO. At the end of the experiment, we analyzed skin tissue for levels of key inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10, and TNF-α), along with oxidative stress markers such as total antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation. We also evaluated the expression of genes and proteins—including MMP-9, MMP-2, CCR-5, and VEGF—in the skin tissue. Our findings revealed that DNFB administration induced significant alterations in antioxidant status, inflammatory biomarkers, and the expression of SD-related genes and proteins. VCO treatment showed dose-dependent improvement, notably at 10 mg/kg, reversing these changes. Histopathological and molecular analyses demonstrated structural restoration of skin tissue following VCO intervention. In conclusion, this study highlights VCO’s promising potential in mitigating seborrheic dermatitis symptoms and modulating skin inflammation, suggesting its possible use in managing DNFB-induced SD.

KEY WORDS: Virgin coconut oil; Inflammation; Apoptosis; Seborrheic dermatitis.

GAO, R. & LI, D. Seborrheic dermatitis treatment potential of virgin coconut oil: Insights from a rat-dinitrofluorobenzene model via biochemical, molecular, and histopathological analyses. Int. J. Morphol., 43(5):1692-1701, 2025.