Oleuropein

Oleuropein is the main polyphenol present in leaves and fruit of the olive tree; it is found in olive oil, both in a form bound to a glucose molecule (glycoside), and in a non-glycated form.

The oleuropein is the main constituent responsible for the bitter taste of olives and olive leaves. Like the other phytoalexins, it possesses antimicrobial activity, fungicide and insecticide, acting as a defense against infections and infestations.

Beneficial properties against many diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases have been attributed to oleuropein. These properties are not limited to the well-known antioxidant power of polyphenols; recent studies have, in fact, demonstrated the clinical effectiveness of oleuropein in humans and unveiled the cellular mechanisms by which this substance and its metabolites exert these effects, which are at the base of the health benefits associated with the so-called Mediterranean diet.

Experimental studies, clinical evidence