Originally published October 17 2005
Olive leaf extract shows enormous sales in Australia
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Richer in antioxidants than green tea, an olive leaf extract made by Olive Leaf Australia may soon reach European markets, after initial tests confirm its antioxidant powers.
The product, often sold in liquid form, contains at least 12 of the antioxidant polyphenols found in olive leaf thanks to the proprietary processing method developed by privately owned family firm Olive Leaf Australia.
"We had read in some studies that olive leaf compound had good antioxidant activity and decided to investigate this," said Julian Archer, one of the directors of the firm.
The team, led by Dr Lesley Stevenson at the Natural Products Pharmacology Unit at Southern Cross University, found that the olive leaf extract had an ORAC value of 10,465 mmol TE/g compared to 5,937 mmol for a green tea extract made by an internationally recognized plant extract firm and sold on the Australian market.
The gap was even wider for grapeseed supplements and vitamin C.
While olive oil has long been thought to offer health benefits, particularly for the heart, making supplements from the olive leaf is a relatively new concept.
Olive leaf extracts are often measured by their oleuropein content but Archer and his scientific colleagues think there is a synergy with the other polyphenols.
This potent antioxidant effect could offer major health benefits.
The company has commissioned a bioassay in the coming months to test the extract for its anti-inflammatory activity, as well as impact on cancer cells.
The lab tests will also check for anti-bacterial and anti-microbial activity.
At the same time, a human trial, to be carried out by the University of Queensland and the Wesley medical institute, will investigate the impact of the antioxidants on cholesterol reduction as well as their capacity to lower blood pressure by relaxing the arteries.
"Most customers are buying it for cold and flu, and others are buying it for particular conditions like arthritis, even though we cannot make claims for these," explained Archer.
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