Hydrolyzed olive vegetation water in mice has anti-inflammatory activity.

Fruit and vegetable simple and polyphenols are potent antioxidants. One of the most effective in terms of free radical scavenging is 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl ethanol or hydroxytyrosol (HT), a simple phenol found predominantly in Olea europea, or the olive plant. HT is most abundant in the aqueous fraction of olive pulp with trace amounts in the olive oil fraction and in the leaves. For these experiments, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of olive vegetation water (OVW), which we showed previously to have potent antioxidant activity. Because some simple phenols and polyphenols with antioxidant activity have shown varying anti-inflammatory activities, we tested OVW and HT for their ability to inhibit the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a pivotal cytokine in inflammation. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated BALB/c mice, a model system of inflammation, OVW at a dose of 125 mg/mouse (500 mg/kg) reduced serum TNF-alpha levels by 95%. In the human monocyte cell line, THP-1, OVW reduced LPS-induced TNF-alpha production by 50% at a concentration of 0.5 g/L (equivalent to approximately 0.03 g/L simple and polyphenols). OVW had no toxic effects in vitro or in vivo. When OVW was combined with glucosamine, a component of proteoglycans and glycoproteins that was shown to decrease inducible nitric oxide synthase production in cultured macrophage cells, the 2 compounds acted synergistically to reduce serum TNF-alpha levels in LPS-treated mice. These findings suggest that a combination of OVW and glucosamine may be an effective therapy for a variety of inflammatory processes, including rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.

The toxicity profile of hydrolyzed aqueous olive pulp extract.

The toxicity profile of HIDROX (Hydrolyzed Aqueous Olive Pulp Extract; OPE) was characterized in a series of toxicology studies. A limit dosage of 2000 mg/kg produced no toxicity in mice (acute oral NOAEL: 2000 mg/kg). In rats, an acute oral NOAEL of 2000 mg/kg was established, based on reductions in weight gains in both sexes at 5000 mg/kg. Reduced gains in female rats at 1500 and 2000 mg/kg were not significantly different from control values. Daily oral dosages of 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg/kg/day for 90 days produced small decreases in body weight gains at 2000 mg/kg/day in the male rats and in all groups of female rats. Feed consumption was comparable to controls. There were no adverse clinical, hematologic, biochemical, organ weight or gross necropsy effects. Focal, minimal or mild hyperplasia of the mucosal squamous epithelium of the limiting ridge of the forestomach occurred in some rats at 2000 mg/kg/day; this change was attributed to local irritation by repeated intubation of large volumes of viscous, granular dosing suspension. A NOAEL of 2000 mg/kg/day was established for the 90-day study, based on the lack of significant adverse effects. Toxicokinetic data indicated that hydroxytyrosol (HT, the major component of OPE) was rapidly absorbed. Mean concentrations were measurable through 1 to 4 hours (t(last)) at 1000 and 1500 mg/kg/day and through 8 hours at 2000 mg/kg/day. Dosages of OPE ranging from 500 to 2000 mg/kg/day did not adversely affect any of the mating, fertility, delivery or litter parameters investigated in an oral rat dosage-range reproduction study. Adverse effects were also absent in a rat developmental toxicity study in which pregnant dams were treated with 1000, 1500 or 2000 mg/kg/day on days 6 through 20 of gestation. Plasma levels for pregnant and lactating rats were comparable to non-pregnant rats; minimal levels crossed the placenta. Quantifiable levels were not identified in maternal milk or plasma from nursing pups. A bacterial reverse mutation and a CHO chromosome aberration assay revealed evidence of mutagenic activity at high dosages with S9 metabolic activation. However, three rat micronucleus evaluations performed after single and repeated (28-day) dosages of up to 2000 mg/kg/day and dosages of 5000 mg/kg/day for 29 days resulted in negative findings; therefore, OPE was not considered to be mutagenic in this in vivo assay.