Innovative Extraction Technologies for Development of Functional Ingredients Based on Polyphenols from Olive Leaves

Olive tree (Olea europea L.) leaves represent around 10% of the total weight of olives arriving at any given mill, which are generally discarded, causing economic and environmental issues. However, these are rich sources of natural bioactive compounds (i.e., polyphenols), which have health-promoting potential. Thus, the valorization of olive leaves by recovering and reusing their components should be a must for food sustainability and circular economy. This review provides an insight into the principal polyphenols present in olive leaves, together with agronomic variables influencing their content. It also summarizes the recent advances in the application of novel extraction technologies that have shown promising extraction efficacy, reducing the volume of extraction solvent and saving time and cost. Moreover, potential industrial uses and international patents filed in the pharmaceutic, food, and cosmetic sectors are discussed.

The Scientific Miracles of Olive (Zaitūn) in the Qur'an: Perspectives of Classic and Scientific Interpretations

Today, commentators use scientific interpretation to investigate various types of knowledge presented by the Qur’an, such as some modern commentators combine scientific studies of fruits cited in the Qur’an with their medicinal properties, such as olives (Olea Europea). According to Al-Baqi, there are at least 7 (seven) verses that mention ‘Zaitūn’ (olives), which are spread across seven different letters. The purpose of this article is to dissect the anatomy of classical and scientific interpretations of the olive fruit in the Qur'an. In the scope of library research, this study employed a thematic method that refers to the literature on commentary books, scientific miracles books of the Qur’an about fruits, and articles in reputable journals. According to the findings of this study, olives are known as the name of a blessed fruit that has advantages over other fruits in several interpretations of the Qur'an. There are various interpretations of the word ‘Zaitūn’; some argue that it refers to the location where many figs and olives grow, namely Jerusalem, where Prophet Isa was born and received revelation. Whereas, scientific interpretation reveals that olives are effective as herbal medicines capable of treating a variety of diseases such as treating the digestive tract in general (particularly the liver), lowering the risk of high blood pressure, treating joint problems in both hands, and lowering the risk of cancer.

Zeytin çekirdeği külünün artistik seramik sırlarında kullanımı

Çanakkale’de Olea europea oleaster ve Olea europea sativa olmak üzere iki tür zeytin yetişmektedir. Çanakkale’de ilk zeytincilik faaliyetleri Ayvacık ilçesindeki Küçükkuyu’da yer alan antik Gargara kentinde gerçekleşmiştir. Böylelikle Çanakkale için zeytin tarımının MÖ 6. yy. a tarihlendirilebileceğini önerebiliriz. Özellikle Akdeniz havzasında yetiştirilen zeytin antik çağlardaki çok tanrılı dinlerde ve rahmani dinlerde önemli bir yere sahiptir. Zeytin insanlık tarihi boyunca kullanılabilirlik özellikleri nedeniyle çok eski dönemlerden itibaren zirai bir ürün olarak hayatımızın vazgeçilmez parçalarından birisi olmuştur. Bu nedenle makalenin ana konusunu zeytin çekirdeğinden üretilen kül sırları oluşturmaktadır ve seramik üretiminde kullanılan artistik sırlar arasında değerlendirilirler. Bu küllerin elde edilmesinde organik olan herhangi bir hammaddenin yanmış olan külleri kullanılabilir. Yaşadığımız Çanakkale coğrafyası ile bağ kurup, yerel bir değer olan zeytine önem çekmek adına daha önce çalışılmamış olan zeytin çekirdeği külü araştırmamızı gerçekleştirme noktasında teşvik edici olmuştur. Antik Troas bölgesinde yer alarak efsanelere kaynaklık eden ve mitolojide Troia gibi bir değeri bünyesinde taşıyan Çanakkale genelinde yaygın olan zeytin ve zeytinden elde edilen kül, seramik sırlarıyla bağlantılı yerel bir değer olması nedeniyle özellikle seçilmiştir.

Substitution of Plastics with Organic Pots in Tree Seedlings Production for Sustainable Environmental Conservation

The Mau Forest Complex, Kenya, is the location where the study below was done with the aim of investigating if small-scale operators of tree nurseries are will to embrace and use biodegradable seedling pots. These containers include baskets made of plant fibre and bamboo tubes as well as to determine the tree species that could form a denser canopy to be used in reafforestation. This study hypothesized that biodegradable pots could promote better growth of tree seedlings and offer more environmental-friendly benefits in comparison to the extensively utilized polythene containers. Biodegradable seedling pots are options friendly to the environment compared to plastic pots commonly used in activities in the greenhouse and nurseries. The use of compostable and plantable containers based on natural and renewable materials derived from plant materials have a potential market to boost the sustainable character of current tree production systems. Three species were planted including, Hagenia abyssinica in Gatimu, Juniperus procera and Olea europea subsp. africana in Mwisho wa Lami. Basket tubes gave the highest vigor (62.429 cm) with H. abyssinica in Gatimu while bamboo (58.048cm) and control (52.667cm) did not show a significant difference at p = 0.05 level. Olea europea subsp. africana generally demonstrated higher vigor with all the applied treatments than J. procera in Mwisho wa Lami. Basket treatment gave the highest height and number of branches for the two plant species while bamboo and control treatments did not have any significant differences at p = 0.05. In this study it was found that seedling bags made from plant fibres could be adopted in tree seedling propagation to remove the synthetic plastics for sustainable environmental conservation. Hagenia abysinica was also recommended for reafforestation as it formed a quick canopy.

Phytochemical Characterization of Olea europea Leaf Extracts and Assessment of Their Anti-Microbial and Anti-HSV-1 Activity

Owing to the richness of bioactive compounds, Olea europea leaf extracts exhibit a range of health effects. The present research evaluated the antibacterial and antiviral effect of leaf extracts obtained from Olea europea L. var. sativa (OESA) and Olea europea var. sylvestris (OESY) from Tunisia. LC-DAD-ESI-MS analysis allowed the identification of different compounds that contributed to the observed biological properties. Both OESA and OESY were active against Gram-positive bacteria (MIC values between 7.81 and 15.61 μg/mL and between 15.61 and 31.25 μg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 for OESY and OESA, respectively). The antiviral activity against the herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) was assessed on Vero cells. The results of cell viability indicated that Olea europea leaf extracts were not toxic to cultured Vero cells. The half maximal cytotoxic concentration (CC50) values for OESA and OESY were 0.2 mg/mL and 0.82 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, both a plaque reduction assay and viral entry assay were used to demonstrate the antiviral activity. In conclusion, Olea europea leaf extracts demonstrated a bacteriostatic effect, as well as remarkable antiviral activity, which could provide an alternative treatment against resistant strains.

Antiulcer Potential of Olea europea L. cv. Arbequina Leaf Extract Supported by Metabolic Profiling and Molecular Docking

Gastric ulceration is among the most serious humanpublic health problems. Olea europea L. cv. Arbequina is one of the numerous olive varieties which have scarcely been studied. The reported antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of the olive plant make it a potential prophylactic natural product against gastric ulcers. Consequently, the main goal of this study is to investigate the gastroprotective effect of Olea europea L. cv. Arbequina leaf extract. LC-HRMS-based metabolic profiling of the alcoholic extract of Olea europea L. cv. Arbequina led to the dereplication of 18 putative compounds (1–18). In vivo indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in a rat model was established and the Olea europea extract was tested at a dose of 300 mg kg−1 compared to cimetidine (100 mg kg−1). The assessment of gastric mucosal lesions and histopathology of gastric tissue was done. It has been proved that Olea europea significantly decreased the ulcer index and protected the mucosa from lesions. The antioxidant potential of the extract was evaluated using three in vitro assays, H2O2 scavenging, xanthine oxidase inhibitory, and superoxide radical scavenging activities and showed promising activities. Moreover, an in silico based study was performed on the putatively dereplicated compounds, which highlighted that 3-hydroxy tyrosol (4) and oleacein (18) can target the 5-lipoxygenase enzyme (5-LOX) as a protective mechanism against the pathogenesis of ulceration. Upon experimental validation, both compounds 3-hydroxy tyrosol (HT) and oleacein (OC) (4 and 18, respectively) exhibited a significant in vitro 5-LOX inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 8.6 and 5.8 µg/mL, respectively. The present study suggested a possible implication of O. europea leaves as a potential candidate having gastroprotective, antioxidant, and 5-LOX inhibitory activity for the management of gastric ulcers.

STATE OF AGRO-DIVERSITY IN A MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEM: CASE OF THE OLIVE TREE (OLEA EUROPEA L.) IN THE MOUNTAINS OF BENI-SNOUS: (TLEMCEN-ALGERIA)

Fruit growing in the Tlemcen region is carried out in a more or less traditional way, and this is largely the result of a lack of knowledge of areas favorable to a particular fruit species, but also of a lack of training and initiatives. Many fruit species are considered as a local product because they occupy mountainous areas with rugged relief. The latter have organoleptic qualities specific to the ecosystem in which they live. Hence the name of niche product. The most significant example is the Sigoise olive or Olive of the Tlemcen mountains. Thus the present study aims to enhance and preserve some experiences of upkeep and preservation of olive trees in mountainous ecological sites with very difficult relief. This aspect has made it possible to generate varieties of olives with by-products of highly appreciated qualitative value.

Pathophysiological Basis for Nutraceutical Supplementation in Heart Failure: A Comprehensive Review

There is evidence demonstrating that heart failure (HF) occurs in 1–2% of the global population and is often accompanied by comorbidities which contribute to increasing the prevalence of the disease, the rate of hospitalization and the mortality. Although recent advances in both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches have led to a significant improvement in clinical outcomes in patients affected by HF, residual unmet needs remain, mostly related to the occurrence of poorly defined strategies in the early stages of myocardial dysfunction. Nutritional support in patients developing HF and nutraceutical supplementation have recently been shown to possibly contribute to protection of the failing myocardium, although their place in the treatment of HF requires further assessment, in order to find better therapeutic solutions. In this context, the Optimal Nutraceutical Supplementation in Heart Failure (ONUS-HF) working group aimed to assess the optimal nutraceutical approach to HF in the early phases of the disease, in order to counteract selected pathways that are imbalanced in the failing myocardium. In particular, we reviewed several of the most relevant pathophysiological and molecular changes occurring during the early stages of myocardial dysfunction. These include mitochondrial and sarcoplasmic reticulum stress, insufficient nitric oxide (NO) release, impaired cardiac stem cell mobilization and an imbalanced regulation of metalloproteinases. Moreover, we reviewed the potential of the nutraceutical supplementation of several natural products, such as coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a grape seed extract, Olea Europea L.-related antioxidants, a sodium–glucose cotransporter (SGLT2) inhibitor-rich apple extract and a bergamot polyphenolic fraction, in addition to their support in cardiomyocyte protection, in HF. Such an approach should contribute to optimising the use of nutraceuticals in HF, and the effect needs to be confirmed by means of more targeted clinical trials exploring the efficacy and safety of these compounds.