Olive Leaf
Scientific Name(s): Olea europaea L.
Common Name(s): OLE, Olive leaf, Olive leaf extract
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jun 6, 2022.
Clinical Overview
Use
Interest in olive leaf use centers on antioxidant and antiviral activity, as well as its possible role in diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. However, clinical trials do not support its use for any indication.
Dosing
Traditional dosages of olive leaf include 7 to 8 g of dry leaf in 150 mL water. In 1 clinical trial, patients with stage 1 hypertension were administered 500 mg of olive leaf extract twice daily for 8 weeks. A clinical trial in overweight men used oleuropein 51.1 mg and hydroxytyrosol 9.7 mg daily for 12 weeks.
Contraindications
Contraindications have not been identified. Caution may be warranted in hepatic disease.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Information regarding safety and efficacy during pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
None well documented. Diabetic patients should be supervised carefully because of potential hypoglycemic effects.
Toxicology
Information is limited. Moodiness and aggressive behavioral changes likely related to olive leaf extract have been reported in an elderly woman at a dose of 85 mg/kg.
Scientific Family
- Oleaceae
Botany
The olive tree (O. europaea) is an evergreen that grows to approximately 10 m in height. Native to Mediterranean regions, olive trees also are cultivated in similar climate zones in the Americas. The small, leathery leaves are gray-green on top, and the underside contains fine, white, scale-like hairs. The leaves are gathered throughout the year.1, 2, 3
History
The olive tree was cultivated in Crete, where the leaves were used to clean wounds as early as 3500 BC. The leaves were worn by athletes in ancient Olympic Games, and the olive branch has traditionally been a symbol of peace. In the 1800s, the plant was used to treat malaria.2, 3, 4, 5
Chemistry
Olive leaf contains the iridoid oleuropein (up to 240 mg per gram of dry leaves).6 Other secoiridoids include demethyloleuropein, esters of oleoside, ligustroside, oleuroside, and unconjugated secoiridoid aldehydes. Triterpenes and flavonoids, including luteolin and related glucopyranosides, tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol, apigenin, rutin, and diosmetin, are also present. Other compounds found in the leaves are oleasterol, leine, choline, cinconine, olivine, tannin, calcium, phosphorus, carbohydrates, fat, and fiber.7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Uses and Pharmacology
Antidiarrheal
A study in mice with castor oil–induced diarrhea suggested that olive leaf extract reduced the number of diarrheal episodes and could affect gastric transit time.68
Antioxidant activity
Animal data
In vitro studies have demonstrated the antioxidant activity of olive leaf extracts.9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16,
