Olive fruit contains abundant high-quality olive oil and numerous natural active ingredients, with a long history of consumption and medicinal use. The most well-known source of olive fruit is olive oil, which is mainly composed of oleic acid (62.47%~79.28%), palmitic acid (11.41%~15.06%), and linoleic acid (2.60%~19.09%), with a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids.
In addition, olive oil contains abundant phenolic substances, including hydroxytyrosol, gallic acid, para-hydroxybenzoic acid, ferulic acid, catechins, caffeic acid, and quercetin.
What is Hydroxytyrosol?
Overview
Hydroxytyrosol is a natural phenolic compound mainly found in the fruits and leaves of olives, with strong antioxidant capacity. It can effectively eliminate free radicals, protect cells from oxidative stress damage, and demonstrate important health benefits in preventing cardiovascular disease, regulating lipid metabolism, and having anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, hydroxytyrosol has a wide range of applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries, especially in the fields of health food and nutritional supplements.
chemical properties
Product Name：Hydroxytyrosol（DOPET）,3,4-Dihydroxyphenylethanol;2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)Ethyl Alcohol;3,4-Dihydroxyphenethyl Alcohol;3-Hydroxytyrosol
CAS number: 10597-60-1
EINECS number: 600-704-3
Molecular formula: C8H10O3
Molecular weight: 154.16
Sources and Extraction Methods
Natural Sources
The primary natural sources of hydroxytyrosol include:
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: The highest quality olive oils, particularly those made from early-harvested olives, contain the most hydroxytyrosol.
Olive Leaves: Often discarded as agricultural waste, olive leaves actually contain substantial amounts of hydroxytyrosol and are increasingly being utilized for extraction purposes.
Olive Mill Wastewater: This byproduct of olive oil production is rich in phenolic compounds, including hydroxytyrosol, and represents an environmentally sustainable source.
Extraction and Production Methods
Several methods are employed to extract and concentrate hydroxytyrosol:
Solvent Extraction: Using food-grade solvents to extract hydroxytyrosol from olive-based materials.
Enzymatic Hydrolysis: Breaking down complex phenolic compounds in olives to release hydroxytyrosol.
Membrane Technology: Advanced filtration techniques to concentrate and purify hydroxytyrosol.
Biotechnological Production: Emerging methods using microorganisms to produce hydroxytyrosol sustainably.
Is Hydroxytyrosol the Most Powerful Antioxidant?
When it comes to antioxidant capacity, hydroxytyrosol stands in a league of its own. Studies have shown that hydroxytyrosol is considered a highly effective antioxidant and free radical scavenger with an ORAC value (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) of 45,000 μmolTE1 per gram, 30 times higher than many well-known antioxidants.
To put this extraordinary antioxidant power into perspective, let’s compare hydroxytyrosol with other renowned antioxidants:
Vitamin C: With an ORAC value of approximately 1,890 per gram, vitamin C is widely recognized for its antioxidant properties, but hydroxytyrosol surpasses it by more than 20 times.
Vitamin E: This fat-soluble antioxidant has an ORAC value of around 1,940 per gram, making hydroxytyrosol significantly more potent.
Resveratrol: Found in red wine and often praised for its anti-aging properties, resveratrol has an ORAC value of approximately 3,100 per gram, still far below hydroxytyrosol’s capacity.
What makes hydroxytyrosol’s antioxidant superiority even more impressive is its bioavailability. Unlike many other antioxidants that are poorly absorbed or quickly metabolized, hydroxytyrosol demonstrates excellent bioavailability when consumed, meaning the body can effectively utilize its antioxidant benefits.
The exceptional antioxidant capacity of hydroxytyrosol stems from its ability to donate electrons to neutralize various types of free radicals, including superoxide radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and peroxyl radicals. This broad-spectrum antioxidant activity makes it particularly effective at protecting cells from oxidative damage that can lead to chronic diseases and aging.
What Does Hydroxytyrosol Do? – Health Benefits
1. Powerful antioxidant effect
Hydroxytyrosol is one of the strongest natural compounds known for its antioxidant capacity, with an oxygen free radical absorption capacity (ORAC) of up to 45000 TE/g, far exceeding vitamin C, vitamin E, Resveratrol, and coenzyme Q10. It can eliminate free radicals in the body, reduce oxidative stress damage to cells, and help prevent diseases such as aging and cancer. Research has found that consuming sufficient hydroxytyrosol can increase the levels of antioxidants in the blood and protect the health of the cardiovascular system.
2. Anti-inflammatory effect
Hydroxytyrosol also has anti-inflammatory effects. It can inhibit the production of inflammatory factors and alleviate the symptoms of chronic inflammation. It can also regulate the activity of immune cells such as dendritic cells and T lymphocytes, inhibit their excessive activation, reduce the risk of allergic reactions and inflammation, and have a significant effect on relieving inflammation in sensitive skin. Research has shown that consuming hydroxytyrosol can reduce the onset of diseases such as arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
3. Cardiovascular protection
Hydroxytyrosol can inhibit the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and reduce the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. It can also inhibit platelet aggregation, effectively reduce the risk of thrombosis, and its antiplatelet aggregation effect is similar to aspirin, which helps prevent cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and stroke.
4. Neuroprotection
Hydroxytyrosol can penetrate the blood-brain barrier, interact with the dopaminergic pathway, and protect dopaminergic neurons. It can reduce damage to nerve cells and improve their survival rate. Research has found that consuming hydroxytyrosol can improve cognitive function and prevent the occurrence of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, etc.
5. Anti-Cancer Properties
Hydroxytyrosol shows a variety of pharmacological activities such as antioxidant properties, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective activities, with its anti-cancer effects being particularly noteworthy:
DNA Protection: Several studies have shown that hydroxytyrosol is capable of scavenging peroxynitrite, thereby preventing DNA damage and nitration of protein ‘tyrosine’ residues, which helps maintain genetic integrity and reduces cancer risk.
Cell Cycle Regulation: Research indicates that hydroxytyrosol can influence cell cycle progression, potentially preventing the uncontrolled cell division characteristic of cancer.
Apoptosis Induction: Studies suggest that hydroxytyrosol may promote programmed cell death in damaged or potentially cancerous cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed.
6. Skin Health and Anti-Aging
Promote collagen synthesis: activate skin cell signaling pathways, promote the production of collagen and elastin fibers, increase skin elasticity and firmness, reduce wrinkles and sagging.
Whitening effect: Inhibits tyrosinase activity, reduces melanin production, regulates cell cycle proteins, interferes with melanosome transport, improves uneven skin tone, and lightens pigmentation.
Anti-photoaging: Inhibits the activity of aging markers in human dermal fibroblasts after UVA irradiation, reduces UV-induced inflammation and cell damage, and protects the skin from photoaging.
Enhance skin barrier: increase the thickness of the stratum corneum, increase the lipid content of the epidermis, reduce water loss, and enhance the skin’s resistance to external stimuli.
What does hydroxytyrosol do？
Hydroxytyrosol is a natural phenolic compound with various effects, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and whitening, widely used in food, medicine, cosmetics, and other fields.
1. Food sector
Antioxidants: can effectively eliminate free radicals in food, delay food oxidation and deterioration, and extend shelf life. They are commonly used in vegetable oils, meat products, beverages, and other foods.
Nutritional supplements: As a nutritional supplement, it helps to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), regulate blood lipid metabolism, and is beneficial for cardiovascular health.
2. Pharmaceutical field
Prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease: inhibit LDL-C oxidation, reduce the formation of atherosclerotic plaque, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease through antioxidant effects.
Neuroprotection: It can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and exert physiological effects in the brain, with potential therapeutic effects on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial: It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities and can be used to treat diseases such as arthritis and skin inflammation. It can also be used as an auxiliary ingredient in antibacterial drugs.
3. Cosmetics field
Antioxidant and anti-aging: Clearing free radicals, reducing oxidative stress damage to the skin, preventing skin aging and pigmentation, and delaying skin aging.
Whitening and Spot Reduction: Inhibits tyrosinase activity, reduces melanin production, brightens skin tone, and improves pigmentation problems.
Moisturizing and repairing: It has good moisturizing ability, can lock in skin moisture, increase skin moisture content, improve skin dryness, roughness, and other problems, and promote skin repair and regeneration.
4. Other fields
Agriculture and Pest Control: As a natural antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal product, it is used for agriculture and pest control to reduce pesticide use.
Health products: often combined with other nutrients to make health products, used to enhance immunity, improve metabolic syndrome, etc.
conclusion
Hydroxytyrosol is one of nature’s most remarkable discoveries in the field of antioxidant research. With its unparalleled ORAC value and wide-ranging health benefits, it truly holds the promise of becoming the most powerful antioxidant known to science. Growing scientific evidence supporting hydroxytyrosol’s benefits, coupled with its excellent safety profile, makes it an ideal choice for those seeking to optimize their health naturally.
