Kill Germs Fast with Olive Leaf Extract . . .

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http://www.smart-publications.com/articles/051215-olive.php

 

 

 

 

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.

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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.

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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

Olive Leaf has a variety of active constituents including several

types of flavonoids (rutin, apigenin, luteolin).10 The most abundant

active ingredient called oleuropein, (pronounced oh-lee-or-oh-pin) has

proved to be a powerful antioxidant and antimicrobial.11,12

Antimicrobial activity

When unheated olives are brined in order to preserve them, oleuropein

is converted into another chemical called elenolic acid. The same

thing happens in the human body. Oleuropein breaks down to elenolic

acid—in the form of calcium elenolate, a calcium salt—which has been

found to be effective against dozens of different viruses.5 The

elenolic acid interacts with a target pathogen at a receptor

site—similar to how a key fits into a lock. The elenolic acid disrupts

the replication of most pathogens, which allows the immune system to

do its job of protecting the body from getting sick.

 

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.

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Based on successful animal studies, Olive Leaf Extract may be able to

diminish the complications of diabetes in humans.

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Inhibits transmission of HIV-1

One of the most exciting discoveries has been oleuropein's ability to

inhibit acute infection and cell-to-cell transmission of HIV-1. It

also has shown antiviral activity against viral haemorrhagic

septicaemia rhabdovirus— a highly infectious viral disease that

affects rainbow trout and other fish.13 The study's researchers

believe that Olive Leaf Extract could be a potential source of

promising natural antivirals used for humans.14

Supports a healthy cardiovascular system

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.2 Researchers believe that the

natural antioxidants found in the diet—and especially in olive tree

by-products—prevent cardiovascular disease by inhibiting the oxidation

of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), the " bad " cholesterol,3

which, in turn, retards the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.

Olive Leaf Extract also plays a role in supporting normal blood

pressure, and in reducing the risks associated with stroke by

inhibiting the production of thromboxane—a factor in blood clotting.6,7

 

A study at the University of Granada, Spain, also found that 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

Olive Leaf Extracts have been shown to lower elevated blood-sugar

levels in diabetic rats. 15-16

 

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

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Researchers believe that the natural antioxidants found

in olive tree by-products prevent cardiovascular disease

by inhibiting the oxidation of LDL cholesterol.

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Anti-cancer compound

A recent test-tube study found that Olive Leaf Extract is a powerful

antioxidant and anti-cancer agent, inhibiting the proliferation and

migration of advanced tumor cell lines. When it was given orally to

mice that had developed spontaneous tumors, the extract completely

regressed the tumors in 9-12 days. The tumors were cut open before

they completely dissolved and researchers noted that they had a

crumbly consistency, and that no viable cells could be recovered from

them. This study provides hope that Olive Leaf Extract can be

developed into a potent anti-tumor medicinal, and may explain the

cancer-protective effects of the olive-rich Mediterranean diet.17

Conclusion

There are numerous studies that show promising results of the effects

of Olive Leaf Extract on diabetes, cardiovascular disease, HIV-1,

cancer, and a myriad of infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi,

and other microbes. The significance of this potent, all-round

antimicrobial cannot be underestimated in our modern world.

 

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

 

 

 

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