An Overview of Olive Oil Biomolecules

Jihene      Elloumi; Rayda      Ben-Ayed; Sami      Aifa; Sami      Aifa

doi:10.2174/2211550111201020115

Abstract

The benefits of olive oil in nutrition were correlated with the prevention and therapy for many diseases. Many studies established an association with the low rate of heart disease deaths and the Mediterranean diet, especially the consumption of olive oil. Olive oil contains many bioactive molecules that could explain its multiple therapeutic effects. When isolated, olive oil biomolecules have shown their specific therapeutic effects towards many diseases including cardiovascular, cancer, arthrosclerosis, osteoporosis and immunity deregulation. Moreover some of these biomolecules possess antimicrobial activity.

In this review, we are interested in therapeutic potentials of olive oil biomolecules in relation to variable extraction processes.

Keywords: Olive oil, extra virgin, biomolecules, oleic acid, hydroxytyrosol, oleoropein, oleocanthal, squalene, sterolic compound, tyrosol, tocopherol, phenolic compound, carotenoid, coronary heart disease, hypertension, osteoporosis, cancer, atherosclerosis, antimicrobial, extraction.