Olive Oil Contains Natural Anti-inflammatory Agent

[Guest guest]

Just thought I would add to this post.

You then could ozonate it to enhance it's curative properties.

Thank you Misty.

Guy

, Misty <misty3@p...> wrote:

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http://www.worldhealth.net/p/olive-oil-contains-natural-anti-inflammatory-agent-\

2005-09-23.html

> Olive Oil Contains Natural Anti-inflammatory Agent

> A naturally occurring chemical found in extra-virgin olive oils is a

non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, report scientists from the

Monell Chemical Senses Center and collaborators. Named oleocanthal by

the researchers, the compound inhibits activity of cyclooxygenase

(COX) enzymes, a pharmacological action shared by ibuprofen. The

finding is significant because inflammation increasingly is believed

to play a key role in a variety of chronic diseases.

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> Named oleocanthal by the researchers, the compound inhibits activity

of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, a pharmacological action shared by

ibuprofen.

>

> The finding is significant because inflammation increasingly is

believed to play a key role in a variety of chronic diseases. " Some of

the health-related effects of the Mediterranean diet may be due to the

natural anti-COX activity of oleocanthal from premium olive oils, "

observes Monell biologist Gary Beauchamp, PhD.

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> The findings are described in the September 1 issue of the journal

Nature.

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> The scientists were led to the discovery by the serendipitous

observation that fresh extra-virgin olive oil irritates the back of

the throat in a unique and unusual manner. " I had considerable

experience swallowing and being stung in the throat by ibuprofen from

previous studies on its sensory properties, " explains Beauchamp. " So

when I tasted newly-pressed olive oil while attending a meeting on

molecular gastronomy in Sicily, I was startled to notice that the

throat sensations were virtually identical. "

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> Taking their lead from the cues provided by olive oil's throaty

bite, the scientists systematically evaluated the sensory properties

of an unnamed chemical compound thought to be responsible for the

throat irritating property of premium olive oils. When results

confirmed that the irritating intensity of a given extra-virgin olive

oil was directly related to how much of the chemical it contained, the

researchers named the compound oleocanthal (oleo=olive; canth=sting;

al=aldehyde).

>

> To rule out the possibility that any other compound was involved,

chemists at Monell and Penn created a synthetic form of oleocanthal

identical in all respects to that found naturally in olive oil, and

showed that it produced exactly the same throat irritation. Co-author

Amos Smith, PhD, explains, " Only by de novo synthesis could we be

absolutely certain that the active ingredient was oleocanthal. "

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> The sensory similarities between oleocanthal and ibuprofen led

scientists at Monell and the University of the Sciences to investigate

potential common pharmacological properties. Studies revealed that,

like ibuprofen, oleocanthal inhibits activity of COX-1 and COX-2

enzymes. Because inhibition of COX activity underlies the

anti-inflammatory actions of ibuprofen and other non-steroidal

anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), the new findings suggest oleocanthal

is a natural anti-inflammatory agent.

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> Monell sensory scientist Paul Breslin, PhD, who directed the

research together with Beauchamp remarks, " The Mediterranean diet, of

which olive oil is a central component, has long been associated with

numerous health benefits, including decreased risk of stroke, heart

disease, breast cancer, lung cancer, and some dementias. Similar

benefits are associated with certain NSAIDs, such as aspirin and

ibuprofen. Now that we know of oleocanthal's anti-inflammatory

properties, it seems plausible that oleocanthal plays a causal role in

the health benefits associated with diets where olive oil is the

principal source of fat. "

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> Beauchamp said future research will aim to identify how oleocanthal

inhibits COX enzymes and how this is related to throat sting.

>

> According to Breslin, " This study is the first to make the case for

pharmacological activity based on irritation and furthers the idea

originally proposed decades ago by Fischer that a compound's

orosensory qualities might reflect its pharmacological potency. "

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> The Monell Chemical Senses Center is a nonprofit basic research

institute based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For 35 years, Monell

has been the nation's leading research center focused on understanding

the senses of smell, taste and chemical irritation: how they function

and affect lives from before birth through old age. Using a

multidisciplinary approach, scientists collaborate in the areas of:

sensation and perception, neuroscience and molecular biology,

environmental and occupational health, nutrition and appetite, health

and well being, and chemical ecology and communication. For more

information about Monell, please visit www.monell.org.

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> CITATION: Beauchamp, G.K., Keast, R.S.J., Morel, D., Lin, J., Pika,

J., Han, Q., Lee, C-H, Smith, A.B. III, Breslin, P.A.S. Ibuprofen-like

activity in extra-virgin olive oil. Nature, 2005, 437, 45-6.

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> FUNDING: National Institutes of Health

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