Formula C25H32O13 | Molar mass 540.51 g/mol | |
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Oleuropein is a phenylethanoid, a type of phenolic compound found in olive leaf together with other closely related compounds such as 10-hydroxyoleuropein, ligstroside, and 10-hydroxyligstroside. All these compounds are tyrosol esters of elenolic acid that are further hydroxylated and glycosylated. It is one of the main natural phenols found in argan oil. It is also found in the leaves of privet.
Oleuropein is traditionally removed from olives due to its bitterness.
Pharmacological properties
In preliminary laboratory research, oleuropein had activity as an agonist of the G-protein estrogen receptor.
Oleuropein inhibited the enzymatic activity of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) with an IC50 value of 905 nM, suggesting that mTOR inhibition is at least one of the reasons for the reported anti-cancer properties of oleuropein.
Other basic research is examining whether oleuropein has pharmacological properties. More research is needed to determine if these effects exist in humans.