By Priyanjana Pramanik, MSc.Reviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc.Jun 30 2024 A recent study in the journal Antioxidants investigated the therapeutic potential of ethanolic extracts from olive leaves sourced from Spain and Greece. The results indicate that both extracts, especially the one from Greece, exhibit high antioxidant capacity and significant antimicrobial and anticancer properties, suggesting potential applications in healthcare as antimicrobial agents and treatments for melanoma.
About the study This study addressed existing research gaps by characterizing the ethanolic extracts of olive leaves from Spain and Greece, focusing on their chemical, micronutrient, and inorganic contents, and assessing their therapeutic potential as antimicrobial, anti-melanoma, and angiogenesis-modulating agents. Researchers harvested olive leaves from Seville, Spain , and Lefkada, Greece . These leaves were dried, ground, and mixed with a solvent to prepare them for analysis.
Triterpenes, another group of beneficial compounds, were higher in OFG than in OFS , with oleanolic acid being the most significant component. Elemental analysis showed that OFS had nearly double the metal content compared to OFG.