Olive (Olea europaea) is a fruit that is grown in temperate climates.

The olive is used to make oil and extracts. Its pulp is used in the food industry.

In the olive there are bioactive compounds useful for human health such as polyphenols, proteins (1).

The amount of phenolic compounds is significant and explains the antioxidant activity of olive and olive oil:

• phenols are present in quantities between 317mg/100g and 2657mg/100g.
• gallic acid from 7mg/100g to 35mg/100g
• 3,4-Dihydroxybenzoic acid 33mg/100g to 25mg/100g

These values change substantially depending on the type of oleander, harvest period and other parameters (2).

The good protein and amino acid content of olive and in particular maslinic acid, a tripenoid, have shown that, together with moderate exercise, they can increase muscle mass, grip strength, knee pain and thus prevent disability related to mobility in older people (3).

Olive cultivation is damaged by the so-called "Olive Fly" (Bactrocera oleae).

Olive studies

Olive fruit fly

References_________________________________________________________________________

(1)  Montealegre C, Esteve C, García MC, García-Ruiz C, Marina ML.  Proteins in olive fruit and oil. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2014;54(5):611-24. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2011.598639. Review.

Abstract. This paper is a comprehensive review grouping the information on the extraction, characterization, and quantitation of olive and olive oil proteins and providing a practical guide about these proteins. Most characterized olive proteins are located in the fruit, mainly in the seed, where different oleosins and storage proteins have been found. Unlike the seed, the olive pulp contains a lower protein content having been described a polypeptide of 4.6 kDa and a thaumain-like protein. Other important proteins studied in olive fruits have been enzymes which could play important roles in olives characteristics. Part of these proteins is transferred from the fruit to the oil during the manufacturing process of olive oil. In fact, the same polypeptide of 4.6 kDa found in the pulp has been described in the olive oil and, additionally, the presence of other proteins and enzymes have also been described. Protein profiles have recently been proposed as an interesting strategy for the varietal classification of olive fruits and oils. Nevertheless, there is still a lot of knowledge without being explored requiring new studies focused on the determination and characterization of these proteins.

(2) Özcan MM, Fındık S, AlJuhaimi F, Ghafoor K, Babiker EE, Adiamo OQ. The effect of harvest time and varieties on total phenolics, antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds of olive fruit and leaves. J Food Sci Technol. 2019 May;56(5):2373-2385. doi: 10.1007/s13197-019-03650-8.

Abstract. The effect of harvest periods on total phenol, antioxidant activity, individual phenolic compounds of fruit and leaves of Tavşan Yüreği, Memecik, Edremit, Ayvalık and Gemlik olive varieties grown in Turkey were investigated. The highest total phenol (317.70 mg/100 g and 2657.81 mg/100 g) were observed in Tavşan Yüreği olive fruit and Ayvalık leaves harvested in December, respectively. The highest antioxidant activities (83.84%) were determined in Edremit fruit harvested in August and 83.33% in either Edremit olive leaves harvested in November and Tavşan Yüreği leaves harvested in December. The olive fruit contained gallic acid ranging from 7.18 mg/100 g (August) to 35.85 mg/100 g (December) in case of Ayvalık and 2.09 mg/100 g (November) to 21.62 mg/100 g (December) in Edremit. Gemlik olives showed higher gallic acid contents compared to the other varieties, however it depended significantly on harvest time in all cases. 3,4-Dihydroxybenzoic acid contents ranged from 33.11 mg/100 g (October) to 25.17 mg/100 g (September) in Memecik olives; 12.17 mg/100 g (August) to 33.11 mg/100 g (December) in case of Tavşan Yüreği olives depending on harvest time. The 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid contents of Memecik leaves ranged between 122.25 mg/100 g (September) to 196.58 mg/100 g (August) and that of Tavşan Yüreği leaves changed between 99.38 mg/100 g (November) and 179.90 mg/100 g (August). The leaves of these two varieties contained significantly (p < 0.01) higher 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid contents than other varieties. The highest gallic acid (144.83 mg/100 g) was detected in Memecik leaves (September) whereas lowest were found in Gemlik leaves collected in October.

(3) Nagai N, Yagyu S, Hata A, Nirengi S, Kotani K, Moritani T, Sakane N. Maslinic acid derived from olive fruit in combination with resistance training improves muscle mass and mobility functions in the elderly. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2019 May;64(3):224-230. doi: 10.3164/jcbn.18-104. Epub 2019 Mar 7. PMID: 31138956; PMCID: PMC6529705.

Abstract. Maslinic acid, derived from olive fruit, reduces pro-inflammation cytokines, which are involved in muscle fiber atrophy. Therefore, the maslinic acid ingestion may enhance the muscular response to resistance training through anti-inflammatory action. We therefore conducted a parallel, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial that examined whether a combination of maslinic acid supplementation and resistance training improve mobility functions in community-dwelling elderly persons. Over a 12-week period, 36 participants underwent moderate resistance training and are assigned to the maslinic acid supplementation (n = 17, 60 mg/day) or the placebo (n = 19) group. At baseline and at 12-weeks, we assessed body composition, grip strength, walking speed, leg strength, mobility functions, and knee pain scores. Following the 12-weeks, skeletal muscle mass, segmental muscle mass (right arm, left arm, and trunk) and knee pain score of the right leg were significantly improved in the maslinic acid group, while there was no change or parameters had worsened in the placebo group. Grip strength of the better side significantly increased only in the maslinic acid group. These results suggest that maslinic acid supplementation combined with moderate resistance training may increase upper muscle mass and grip strength, and reduce knee pain, could be effective for preventing mobility-related disability in elderly persons. Clinical trial registration number: UMIN000017207.