Opextan® (Olive Fruit Extract) by Indena

Photoprotective and Antioxidant Effects of a Standardized Olive (Olea europaea) Extract in Healthy Volunteers

Solar UV exposure damages the skin through the photochemical generation of reactive oxygen species, causing an increase in oxidative stress. Polyphenols appear to be particularly promising photoprotective agents, due to their antioxidant and sunscreen properties. In order to assess the photoprotective effects of a new standardized extract of Olea europaea (Opextan) particularly rich in polyphenols, we performed three separate studies in healthy volunteers. We found that: 1. oral supplementation with Opextan 400mg for 28 days significantly reduced (-36.4%) systemic oxidative stress, as measured by urinary levels of 8-isoprostane (PGF2a); 2. Opextan, applied topically, significantly reduced UV induced lipid peroxidation (-27.1%) versus placebo; 3. oral supplementation with Opextan 160mg for 28 days significantly increased the minimal erythemal dose (+14.5%) and the time to UV exposure (+14.1%) versus placebo. Our observations indicate that Opextan exerts photoprotective effects thanks to the antioxidant properties of its components, and therefore it could be useful in the management of skin conditions associated with increased oxidative stress.

Effects of a Standardized Olive (Olea Europea) Fruit Extract on Healthy Skin Aging Parameters

Background: Opextan® (Indena, S.p.A., Milan, Italy) is a non-caloric standardized extract of the fruit of Olea europea, which contains high concentrations of polyphenols and the phytonutrient verbascoside. These molecules exert a potent antioxidant activity, thus playing an important role in skin health. METHODS: In this registry study, we enrolled 67 healthy women who freely chose to receive Opextan® 300 mg daily or no specific skin oral treatment for 4 weeks. Multiple biochemical and physiological properties of the skin were assessed at baseline and after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, including water and oil content, a number of exfoliating cells, transcutaneous oxygen and carbon dioxide tension, surface hydration, and nutritional and thermoregulatory blood flow. RESULTS: Women treated with Opextan® benefited from a progressive increase in the water and oil content of the skin, im- improvement in skin hydration, reduction in the number of exfoliating cells, increase in O2 tension and decrease in CO2 tension, and improvement in skin thermoregulatory and nutritive flux. The results were superior to those observed in the control group. Moreover, some preliminary analyses have shown a beneficial effect of Opextan® on blood lipid metabolism. In addition, in a smaller study conducted on ten subjects undergoing the histamine prick test, we observed that Opextan® treatment lead to a smaller lesion and fastest recovery time.

Effect of Olive Polyphenol Dry Extract on Glucose Metabolism in Subjects with Hypertension

Objective: It is commonly known that diabetes in combination with hypertension increases the risk of stroke and heart disease. It is therefore important to try and prevent the onset of diabetes in hypertensive patients. In the present study, we examined the effect of water-soluble olive polyphenol (OPDEX) on blood glucose levels in hypertensive patients with impaired glucose tolerance. Methods: We had 15 hypertensive patients with impaired glucose tolerance take a supplement containing OPDEX for 12 weeks and conducted routine laboratory tests and measured oxidative stress indicators before and after taking the supplement.