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Kill Germs Fast with Olive Leaf Extract . . .

It just might be nature's answer to antibiotic resistant bacteria

The olive tree, a small evergreen native to Mediterranean regions, has been revered throughout history for its contribution to the culinary and healing arts. Its extracts have been used for thousands of years as a folk remedy for treating fevers, wounds, and infection, and for skin rashes and boils.1 The oil is symbolic of purity and goodness, the olive branch represents peace and prosperity, and Greek Olympians were crowned with a wreath of olive leaves.2

Now, scientific research has proven that the active ingredients in olive leaves do indeed have vast healing powers.

It's been well documented that the Mediterranean diet—rich in fruits, vegetables, grains and olive oil—is associated with a lower than average risk of coronary heart disease.

Olive Leaf Extract provides a number of powerful health benefits by:

• Protecting low density lipoprotein from oxidation3
  
  
• Inhibiting the growth of bacteria and viruses4,5
  
  
• Inhibiting platelet aggregation and production of thromboxane6,7
  
  
• Exerting a vasodilator effect8
  
  
• Providing potent antioxidant protection9-12

Olive Leaf's biochemical constituents

Antimicrobial activity

Elenolic acid has shown antibacterial actions against Lactobacilli and Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilus in a test tube study.4 This is particularly significant because Staph infections are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics. Olive Leaf Extract has also been shown to be effective against viruses, retroviruses, parasites, yeasts, protozoans, fungi, molds and other microbes and diseases in laboratory testing.

Based on successful animal studies, Olive Leaf Extract may be able to diminish the complications of diabetes in humans.

Inhibits transmission of HIV-1

Supports a healthy cardiovascular system

A study at the University of Granada, Spain, also found that an Olive Leaf Extract caused endothelium relaxation in the aorta in laboratory animals, which is significant because of its potential as a vasodilator to help prevent cardiovascular disease in humans.8

Produces a hypoglycemic effect in diabetic laboratory animals

This past October, a study published by researchers at the University of Baghdad, Iraq, found that Olive Leaf Extract reduced oxidative stress and hyperglycemia in rabbits with alloxan-induced diabetes. (Alloxan is the chemical that makes white flour look "clean," and the drug used to induce diabetes in laboratory animals.) After being treated for 16 weeks, the blood glucose and antioxidant levels in the rabbits were restored to the levels of normal rabbits. On the other hand, the rabbits that were untreated showed increases in an oxidative stress marker and blood glucose, and a decrease in antioxidant levels. The scientists concluded that these results demonstrate that Olive Leaf Extract may be helpful in inhibiting hyperglycemia and oxidative stress caused by diabetes, and that it may be able to help diminish the complications of diabetes in humans.16

Researchers believe that the natural antioxidants found in olive tree by-products prevent cardiovascular disease by inhibiting the oxidation of LDL cholesterol.

Anti-cancer compound

Conclusion

With the hundreds of viruses and bacteria mutating into forms that are resistant to drugs, it's more important than ever to become familiar with the benefits of Olive Leaf Extract. Keep it on hand for when you or a family member is stricken with any sort of viral or bacterial illness … and you just might want to add it to your daily health regimen as an excellent antioxidant for cardiovascular health.

References

1. Foster S. 101 Medicinal Herbs. Loveland, CO: Interweave Press, 1998, 148–9.
   
   
2. Grieve M. A Modern Herbal, vol II. New York: Dover Publications, 1982, 598.
   
   
3. Turner R, Etienne N, Alonso MG, de Pascual-Teresa S, Minihane AM, Weinberg PD, Rimbach G. Antioxidant and anti-atherogenic activities of olive oil phenolics. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2005 Jan;75(1):61-7.
   Abstract  
   
   
4. Fleming HP, Walter WM, Etchells JL. Antimicrobial properties of oleuropein and products of its hydrolysis from green olives. Applied Microbiol 1973;26:777–82.
   Abstract



5. Renis, H. (1969). In vitro antiviral activity of calcium elenolate. Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy 9: 167-172.
   Abstract



6. Petroni, A., Blasevic, M., Salami, M., Papii, N., Montedoro, G.F. and Galli, C. (1995). Inhibition of platelet aggregation and eicosanoid production by phenolic components of olive oil. Thrombosis Research 78: 151-160.
   Abstract



7. Bruneton J. Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants. Paris, France: Technique & Documentation-Lavoisier, 1995, 487–9.
   
   

8. Zarzuelo A, Duarte J, Jimenez J, Gonzalez M, Utrilla MP. Vasodilator effect of olive leaf. Planta Med. 1991 Oct;57(5):417-9
   Abstract



9. Kruk I, Aboul-Enein HY, Michalska T, Lichszteld K, Kladna A. Scavenging of reactive oxygen species by the plant phenols genistein and oleuropein. Luminescence. 2005 Mar-Apr;20(2):81-9.
   Abstract



10. Bruneton J. Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants. Paris, France: Technique & Documentation-Lavoisier, 1995, 487–9.
    
    
11. Visioli, F., G. Bellomo and C. Galli (1998). "Free radical-scavenging properties of olive oil polyphenols." Biochem Biophys Res Commun 247(1): 60-4.
    Abstract



12. Bisignano, G., A. Tomaino, R. Lo Cascio, G. Crisafi, N. Uccella and A. Saija (1999). "On the in-vitro antimicrobial activity of oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol." J Pharm Pharmacol 51(8): 971-4.
    Abstract



13. S Lee-Huang, L Zhang and PL Huang. Anti-HIV activity of olive leaf extract (OLE) and modulation of host cell gene expression by HIV-1 infection and OLE treatment. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2003 Aug 8;307(4):1029-37.
    Abstract



14. Micol V, Caturla N, Perez-Fons L, Mas V, Perez L, Estepa A. The olive leaf extract exhibits antiviral activity against viral haemorrhagic septicaemia rhabdovirus (VHSV). Antiviral Res. 2005 Jun;66(2-3):129-36. Epub 2005 April
    Abstract



15. Gonzalez, M., Zarzuelo, A., Gamex, M.J., Utrilla, M.P., Jimenez, J. and Osuna, I. (1992). Hypoglycemic activity of olive leaf. Planta Medica 58: 513-515.
    Abstract
    
    
16. Al-Azzawie HF, Alhamdani MS. Hypoglycemic and antioxidant effect of oleuropein in alloxan-diabetic rabbits. Life Sci. 2005 Oct 15.
    Abstract



17. Hamdi HK, Castellon R. Oleuropein, a non-toxic olive iridoid, is an anti-tumor agent and cytoskeleton disruptor. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005 Sep 2;334(3):769-78.
    Abstract