Olive Leaf Extract has been found useful in improving resistance to microbial infection. It contains significant qualities of phenolic compounds, such as oleuropein, oleuropeoside, and hydroxytyrosol, that have been shown to have anti microbial properties, as well as antioxidant power. These properties may protect against intestinal or respiratory infections. It has been shown that olive plant tissue can reduce plasma levels, lower cholesterol, protect from heart disease, and inhibit platelet aggregation. The polypheols of the olive plant also have blood sugar-lowering properties. Benefits of Olive Leaf Extract Include:
Fungal Nail Infections
Infections, Colds, Flus
Resistance to Microbial Infections
Cholesterol
Heart Disease
Antioxidant Power
Anti-Diabetic Properties
Anti-Bacterial Properties
Wound Healing
Anti-Viral
Chronic Fatigue
AIDs/HIV
Size: 90 vegetarian capsules Each capsule contains:
Olive Leaf Extract (20% oleuropein) 500 mg
Other Ingredients: Microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable stearate.
Suggested Use: For acute condition, take 1-2 caps every 6 hours. For daily maintenance dose, take 1 capsule per day.
Store In A Cool, Dry Place. Keep Out Of Reach Of Children.
This product does not contain wheat, yeast, soy, corn, eggs, dairy, animal products, artificial colors or flavors. This product is suitable for vegetarians.
Read customer questions and answers about Immune Support on our blog.
Nature?s Protector from Infection
The olive tree has been studied for centuries, and over the years many medicinal benefits have been attributed to it. Olive oil, buds, leaves, and roots have all been used medicinally, but olive leaf extract is of exceptional interest. A bitter substance in the extract was found and named oleuropein. Numerous studies have been conducted to determine the benefits of oleuropein. In 1962, an Italian researcher discovered that oleuropein lowered blood pressure in animals.[8] Other European researchers confirmed this finding. In addition, they found it could also increase blood flow in the coronary arteries2, relieve arrhythmias, and prevent intestinal muscle spasms. In 1969, a Dutch researcher determined the active ingredient in oleuropein to be a substance called elenolic acid. Elenolic acid was found to have powerful anti-bacterial properties.[10] By the late 1960's, research by scientists at Upjohn showed that elenolic acid also slowed the growth of viruses. It was found to inhibit a variety of viruses associated with the common cold in humans. Further, a number of research studies at this time showed that calcium elenolate, a salt of elenolic acid, had a strong effect not just on viruses, but bacteria and parasitic protozoans as well.[11]
Due to olive leaf's anti-viral properties, it has been found to be beneficial in the treatment of conditions caused by, or associated with a virus, retrovirus, bacterium, or protozoan. Such conditions include influenza, the common cold, meningitis, Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), encephalitis, herpes I and II, human herpes virus 6 and 7, shingles, HIV/ARC/AIDS, chronic fatigue, hepatitis B, pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, malaria, dengue, bacteremia, severe diarrhea, blood poisoning, and dental, ear, urinary tract and surgical infections.
Recent studies have also shown that olive leaves, when stored in closed plastic bags at a specific temperature and for a designated time, were found to have increased antioxidant levels. The antioxidant that can be isolated is called 3,4 dihydroxyphenylethy 4-formyl-3-formylmethyl-4-hexenoate (3,4-DHPEA-EDA).[12] This antioxidant is comparable to alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E). Phenolated compounds have also been found in the olive leaf and bud. These compounds include oleuropein and flavonoids such as rutin flavonol.[13] These are both potent antioxidant compounds. Flavonoids inhibit LDL oxidation7 and oleuropein has antimicrobial properties.
Fungal and yeast infections are included in the wide spectrum of conditions aided with olive leaf extract. It has been said that more than 10 million Americans have disfiguring fungal nail infections, a widely ignored medical problem. Fungal infections are frequently found among patients with AIDS, cancer and diabetes, athletes, the elderly, people who spend considerable time standing or who wear the same shoes day after day, or those who wear artificial fingernails. Drugs taken for cancer and AIDS lower resistance and are believed to make people more susceptible to fungal infections. Olive leaf extract may offer a natural and less expensive method of treatment for these infections.
The routine dosage is one capsule every six hours. The supplement should be taken between meals for best results. In the case of bad colds or flu, the dosage may be increased to two capsules every six hours. For acute infections, some individuals have taken more -- three or four every six hours -- and reported rapid relief. For healthy individuals seeking more energy or the preventative benefits of olive leaf extract, one or two capsules a day is suggested.
Wound Healing Historically, medicinal use of olive leaf has been for treatment of fevers and for the topical treatment of wounds or infection. As a poultice, it was also used by herbalists to treat skin rashes and boils. [1]
Heart Health Olive leaf has a wide number of constituents, including oleuropein and several types of flavonoids (e.g., rutin, apigenin, luteolin). [2] While olive leaf is traditionally associated with a wide number of medicinal claims, few of these have been verified by experimental study. In an animal study oleuropein (when given by injection or in IV form) was found to decrease blood pressure (e.g., systolic and diastolic) and dilate the coronary arteries surrounding the heart. [3] This ability to lower blood pressure may justify the traditional use of olive leaf in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension. [4] However, human studies are needed to clearly establish olive leaf as a potential treatment for high blood pressure. [13]
Cholesterol In addition, an in vitro study has revealed that oleuropein inhibits the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. LDL oxidation is one part in a series of damaging events that, if left unchecked, can lead to the development of atherosclerosis. [5] This action may provide one clue as to why those consuming a Mediterranean-based diet may lower their risk of developing atherosclerosis. [14]
Antibacterial Oleuropein from olives may also have antibacterial properties. When unheated olives are brined to preserve them, oleuropein is converted into another chemical called elenolic acid. Elenolic acid has shown antibacterial actions against several species of Lactobacilli and Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilus in an in vitro study. [6] Whether or not the oleuropein in the leaf undergoes such a transformation is open to question at this point, raising some question as to its antibacterial effects and potential use for this purpose in humans.
Blood Sugar Olive leaf extracts have been employed experimentally to lower elevated blood-sugar levels in animals with diabetes. [7] These results have not been reproduced in human clinical trials and as such, no clear conclusions can be made from this animal study in the treatment of diabetes.
Possible Treatment For AIDS Olive Leaf Extract Julie Roach and Julie Kreloff, M.S., R.D.
Researchers are now trying to see if olive leaf extract can benefit AIDS patients. Research shows that it inhibits the production of both reverse transcriptase and protease, enzymes necessary for the survival of HIV.
Anti-Viral, and Anti-Retroviral Olive Leaf Extract Julie Roach and Julie Kreloff, M.S., R.D.
Olive leaf extract has been found to be an extremely effective anti-viral, anti-retroviral, and bactericidal substance. Research suggests that a number of mechanisms are involved. These mechanisms include:
A critical interference with certain amino acids that are essential for the vitality of viruses.
Interference with the viral infection and/or the spread of the virus by inactivation, or by preventing virus shedding, budding or assembly at the cell membrane.
The ability to directly penetrate infected host cells and inhibit viral replication.
In the case of retro viruses, it neutralizes the production of reverse transcriptase and protease.
Stimulates phagocytosis ( the process of engulfment and destruction of particulate matter by phagocytic cells such a macrophages and neutrophils).
Chronic Fatigue Olive Leaf Extract By Julie Roach and Julie Kreloff, M.S., R.D.
Chronic Fatigue is another condition in which olive leaf has been known to be prescribed. For some very sick people, including people with chronic fatigue syndrome or particularly large amounts of virus or bacteria in their bodies, olive leaf extract may possibly generate detoxification symptoms, known as the "die-off effect". Such individuals may actually feel worse for a short time before feeling better. The "die-off effect," or Herxheimer Reaction as it is medically called, refers to symptoms generated by a detoxification process. [15]
Petkov V, Manolov P. Pharmacological analysis of the iridoid oleuropein. Arzneim Forsch/Drug Research 1972;22:1476?86.
Weiss RF. Herbal Medicine. Gothenburg, Sweden: AB Arcancum, 1988, 160?1.
Visioli F, Galli C. Oleuropein protects low density lipoprotein from oxidation. Life Sciences 1994;55:1965?71.
Fleming HP, Walter WM, Etchells JL. Antimicrobial properties of oleuropein and products of its hydrolysis from green olives. Applied Microbiol 1973;26:777?82.
Peirce A. Practical Guide to Natural Medicines. New York: William Morrow and Co., 1999, 469?71.
Panizzi, L., The constitution of oleuropein, a bitter glucoside of the olive with hypotensive action. Gazz. Chim Ital, 1960. 90: p. 1449-85.
Zarzuelo, A., Vasodilator effect of olive leaf. Planta Med, 1991. 57(5): p. 417-9.
Fleming HP, W.W., Etchells JL, Isolation of a bacterial inhibitor from green olives. Appl Microbiol, 1969. 18: p. 856-860.
Renis, H., In vitro antiviral activity of calcium elenolate. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1969: p. 167-172.
Paiva-martins, F., Isolation and characterization of the anitoxidant component 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethyl 4-formyl-3- formylmethyl-4 hexenoate form olive leaves. J Agric Food Chem, 2001. 49(9): p. 4214-9.
Hertog, M., et al, Dietary antioxidant flavonoids and risk of coronary heart disease: Zutphen Elderly Study. Lancet, 1993. 342: p. 1007-11.
Visioli F, G.C., Oleuropein protects low density lipoprotein from oxidation. Life Sci, 1994. 55(24): p. 1965-1971
Elliot, G., et al, Preliminary safety studies with calcium elenoate, an antiviral agent. Antimicrob Agents Chemotherapy, 1969: p. 173.
Average Rating
Customer Reviews
great product!
10/18/2011
Reviewed by jess from los angeles, ca.
this seems to me the best, strongest olive leaf extract available, i didn't get sick during cold/flu season!
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