Olive oil and its principal bioactive compound: Hydroxytyrosol - A review of the recent literature

Olive oil contains high profile fatty acids and phenolics. The fatty acid profile changes with maturation of the olives. Oleic acid predominates throughout the maturation period. Palmitic acid is predominantly found in the unripe stage while as, palmitoleic acid, stearic acid, and linoleic acid are chiefly found in ripe olives. Oleuropein is the predominant secoiridoid in the early stages of olive maturation. As the maturation proceeds, oleuropein degrades to yield HT. Over the years, HT has been explored against a number of health complications and shows promising results against diabetes, inflammation, nervous disorders, angiogenesis, cancer, oxidative stress, heavy metal toxicity, hemolysis, LDL oxidation, muscle damage, and nephrotoxicity. The bioactive properties of HT are accomplished through nutrigenomic and immunomodulatory mechanisms. HT, its lipophilic derivatives, and many of its metabolites of biological interests have been synthesized through microbological, biotechnological, and other chemical strategies.