Olive Leaf Extract 20% Oleuropein by Comext

Olive leaf is the leaf of the olive tree (Olea europaea). The benefits of olive leaf are nothing new, as they were used in the past for treating severe fevers and malaria. In Britain, the brew from green olive leaves was also used for aiding the sick returning from tropical colonies. Decades later, it is believed by scientists that the oleuropein substance, contained in the olive leaves was indeed responsible for the treatments and cures.

While olive oil is well known for its flavor and health benefits, the leaf has been used medicinally in various times and places. Olive leaf and olive leaf extracts (OLIV-1858), are now marketed as anti-aging, immunostimulator, and antibiotic agents. Though there is some laboratory evidence for these effects in biological standardization experiments (i.e., bioassays), clinical evidence in humans is inconclusive.

Clinical evidence has been conflicting regarding any blood pressure lowering effect of carefully extracted olive leaf extracts. Bioassays support its antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory effects at a laboratory level. A liquid extract made directly from fresh olive leaves gained international attention when it was shown to have an antioxidant capacity almost double green tea extract and 400% higher than vitamin C.

The primary active compounds in unprocessed olive leaf are believed to be the antioxidants oleuropein andhydroxytyrosol, as well as several other polyphenols and flavonoids, including oleocanthal. Elenolic acid is a component of olive oil and olive leaf extract. It can be considered as a marker for maturation of olives. Oleuropein, together with other closely related compounds such as 10-hydroxyoleuropein, ligstroside and 10-hydroxyligstroside, are tyrosol esters of elenolic acid.