Olive leaf

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Olive leaf is the leaf of the olive tree (Olea europaea). While olive oil is well known for its flavor and health benefits,

 the leaf has been used medicinally in various times and places.^{[citation needed]} Olive leaf and olive leaf extracts 

(OLE), are now marketed as anti-aging, immunostimulator, and antibiotic agents. Though there is some laboratory evidence for these effects in bioassays, clinical evidence in humans is equivocal.

Clinical evidence has been conflicting regarding any blood pressure lowering effect of carefully extracted olive leaf

extracts.^[1][2][3][4] Bioassays support its antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory effects at a laboratory level.

 A liquid extract made directly from fresh olive leaves recently gained international attention when it was shown to 

have an antioxidant capacity almost double green tea extract and 400% higher than vitamin C.^[5]

Contents   [hide]  1 Leaf appearance 2 Active compounds 3 Nutritional and medicinal uses 3.1 Soaps and cosmetics 4 Notes 5 Additional references

[edit]Leaf appearance

The silvery green leaves are oblong, measuring 4–10 centimetres (1.6–3.9 in) long and 1–3 centimetres (0.39–1.2 in)

wide.

[edit]Active compounds

The primary active compounds in unprocessed olive leaf are believed to be the antioxidants oleuropein

and hydroxytyrosol, as well as several other polyphenols and flavonoids, including oleocanthal.^{[citation needed]}

[edit]Nutritional and medicinal uses

This section needs more medical references for verification or relies too heavily on primary sources. Please review the contents of the section and add the appropriate references if you can. Unsourced or poorly sourced material may be removed. (July 2012)

Researchers have found that olive leaf dilates isolated rat aorta.^[4] The blood pressure lowering effects in humans, 

however, was not statistically significant.^[1]

Recent research in rodents has shown that olive leaf extracts may reduce infarct volume, brain edema, as well as 

improve blood–brain barrier permeability and neurological deficit scores after transient middle cerebral artery 

occlusion (stroke).^[6]

Olive leaf harbours antioxidant properties that help protect the body from the continuous activity of free radicals.

^{[2][5][7][8][9][10][11]} Free radicals are highly reactive chemicalsubstances that, when oxidized,

can cause cellular damage if left unchecked. Some recent research on the olive leaf has shown its antioxidants to

be effective in treating some tumors and cancers such as liver, prostate, colon, skin and breast cancer, clinical 

studies lacking; Olive leaf is especially potent when used in combination with other antioxidants.^{[12][13][14][15]}

Olive leaf can be taken as a liquid concentrate, dried leaf tea, powder, or capsule. The leaf extracts can be taken

in powder, liquid concentrate, or capsule form though the fresh-picked leaf liquid extracts are quickly gaining 

popularity due to the broader range of healing compounds they contain.

[edit]Soaps and cosmetics

Olive leaf extracts are combined with olive oil in soaps and skin creams for application to the skin or other body 

surfaces.

[edit]Notes

1. ^ ^a b Perrinjaquet-Moccetti et al. Food Supplementation with an Olive (Olea europaea L.) Leaf Extract 
2. Reduces Blood Pressure in Borderline Hypertensive Monozygotic Twins, 2008.
3. ^ ^a b Somova et al. Antihypertensive, antiatherosclerotic and antioxidant activity of triterpenoids isolate from Olea europaea, subspecies africana leaves, 2003.
4. ^ Khayyal et al. Blood pressure lowering effect of an olive leaf extract (Olea europaea) in L-NAME induce hypertension in rats, 2002.
5. ^ ^a b Zarzuelo et al. Vasodilator effect of olive leaf, 1991.
6. ^ ^a b Dr Stevenson, L,. et al. Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) Report on Olive Leaf Australia's Olive Leaf Extracts, Southern Cross University, 2005.
7. ^ Mohagheghi et al. The neuroprotective effect of olive leaf extract is related to improved blood–brain barrier permeability and brain edema in rat with experimental focal cerebral ischemia, 2011.
8. ^ Benavente-Garcia et al. Antioxidant activity of phenols extracted from Olea europaea L. leaves, 2000.
9. ^ Saija et al. In vitro evaluation of the antioxidant activity and biomembrane interaction of the plant phenols oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol, 1998.
10. ^ Briante et al. Olea europaea L. leaf extract and derivatives: antioxidant properties, 2002.
11. ^ Speroni et al. Oleuropein Evaluated In Vitro and In Vivo as an Antioxidant, 1998.
12. ^ Pinelli et al. Quali-quantitative analysis and antioxidant activity of different polyphenolic extracts from Olea europea L. leaves, 2000.
13. ^ Hamdi et al. Oleuropein, a non-toxic olive iridoid, is an anti-tumor agent and cytoskeleton disruptor, 2005.
14. ^ Dr Stevenson, L,. et al. In vitro Biological Activities of Pure Olive Leaf Extract & High Strength Olive Leaf Extract, 2006.
15. ^ Olive Leaf, Top 10 Immune System Boosters published by GAYOT.com
16. ^ Muneer Abuismail. Analysis and Biological Evaluation of Jordanian Olive Trees Leaves - Cancer Cure Invention With Tissue Repair Potential, 2011.

[edit]Additional references

• "Olive leaf extract exhibits antiviral activity against viral haemorrhagic septicaemia rhabdovirus (VHSV)"^{[full citation needed]}
• Induction of Growth Inhibition and Differentiation of Human Leukemia HL-60 Cells by a Tunisian Gerboui Olive Leaf Extract
• Olea europaea: A Phyto-Pharmacological Review [1]^{[dead link]}

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