The Bible refers to the olive tree as the “tree of life”. Olives, the ripe fruit of the tree, yield healthy monounsaturated fats and phytochemicals that act as potent antioxidants. Research on the benefits of olive oil abounds in scientific literature. Yet, people are still not aware of the amazing healing powers of another component of the olive tree, the leaves.

The olive tree, botanically designated as Olea europea, brings to us a promising herbal product known as olive leaf extract. The ancient Egyptians regarded olive leaf as a symbol of heavenly power, and in keeping with that belief, they extracted its oil and used it to mummify their kings. The healing powers of olive leaf were realized as early as the 1880s when it was utilized to counteract malaria. According to the 1854 Pharmaceutical Journal of Provincial Transactions (pp. 363-354), Hanbury stated that a “decoction of the leaves” of the olive tree had been found to be extremely effective in reducing fevers due to a severe, and otherwise often-fatal disease that swept the island of Mytelene in 1843. The olive leaf extract was reported subsequently to be more effective in its fever-lowering properties than quinine. Hanbury recalled that similar observations had been made in France and Spain between 1811 and 1828. It appears that in the early 19th century, Spanish physicians sometimes prescribed olive leaves as a “febrifuge”, and often used them to treat cases of intermittent fever (2). Hanbury concluded that the properties of the tree Olea europea deserved more extensive investigation.

In the early1900s scientists isolated a bitter compound called oleuropein from olive leaf that was thought to give the olive tree its disease resistance. In 1962 an Italian researcher recorded that Oleuropein had the ability to lower blood pressure in animals. Other European researchers validated that claim and also found it to increase blood flow in the coronary arteries, relieve arrhythmia and prevent intestinal muscle spasms. In the years to come, a Dutch researcher identified that a primary ingredient in oleuropein inhibited the growth of viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. This chemical was elenolic acid. Further European research determined this compound to have strong bactericidal, antiviral and antifungal capabilities. A safety study on calcium elenolate was tested with laboratory animals and published by the Upjohn pharmaceutical company in 1970. The study concluded that even in doses several hundred times higher than recommended; no toxic or other adverse side effects were discovered.

Health professionals first started using Olive Leaf extract in 1995 when it first became available. Although we do not have a long-term perspective as yet, initial results are very positive. We see a very promising and unique herb with multiple applications. It shows considerable therapeutic action against many common conditions. In short, it appears to be living up to its unique background and expectations.

From research and clinical experience to date, we can say that supplemental olive leaf may be beneficial in the treatment for conditions caused by, or associated with, a virus, retrovirus, bacterium or protozoan. Among those treatable conditions are: influenza, the common cold, candida infections, meningitis, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), encephalitis, herpes I and II, human herpes virus 6 and 7, shingles (Herpes zoster), HIV/ARC/AIDS, chronic fatigue, hepatitis B, pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, malaria, dengue, severe diarrhea, and dental, ear, urinary tract and surgical infections.

Many people who live stressful lives or who may be particularly susceptible to colds and viruses may benefit from long-term use of olive leaf as a preventive agent. Some patients have expressed other unexpected benefits of olive leaf, including improved psoriasis, normalization of heart beat irregularities, diminished cravings, less pain from hemorrhoids, toothaches and chronically achy joints.

Research suggests that olive leaf may be a true anti-viral compound because it appears to selectively block an entire virus-specific system in the infected host. It then appears to offer healing effects not addressed by pharmaceutical antibiotics. Olive leaf's broad killing power includes an ability to interfere with critical amino acid production for viruses; an ability to contain viral infection and/or spread by inactivating viruses by preventing virus shredding, budding or assembly at the cell membrane; the ability to directly penetrate infected cells and stop viral replication.

In a one study, the 100-mg/kg dose of olive leaf extract completely prevented the development of hypertension with L-NAME treatment; there was no significant difference in blood pressure between the group given 100 mg extract/kg and the normal control group.

Olive leaf extract was also effective for treating established hypertension. Rats treated with L-NAME for 12 weeks but not given olive leaf extract had an 87% increase in blood pressure from baseline to 12 weeks. In contrast, rats started on olive leaf extract (100 mg/kg) after 6 weeks of L-NAME treatment showed reductions in blood pressure that were attributed to the extract. In this group, after the first 6 weeks of L-NAME, average blood pressure had risen to 46% over baseline. Over the next 6 weeks, when olive leaf extract was given along with L-NAME, blood pressure decreased progressively until it was only 12% above baseline. This constituted a normalization of blood pressure, according to the authors.

In discussing their results, the authors explain that rats given chronic treatment with L-NAME, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, develop marked hypertension. "The model of using L-NAME to induce experimental hypertension has become a widely accepted method for testing antihypertensive agents," they add.

The data gathered in the current study show that olive leaf extract had a dose-dependent effect of preventing increases in blood pressure induced by L-NAME. The highest dose of extract, 100 mg/kg, almost completely prevented the rise in blood pressure. That dose was then used to attempt to lower blood pressure in rats with established hypertension. Blood pressure was normalized when olive leaf extract was given with ongoing L-NAME treatment. "Thus, the olive leaf extract has been shown to reverse the L-NAME induced dysfunction, when given after the development of hypertension, and to prevent the occurrence of such dysfunction, when given at the outset together with L-NAME," the authors conclude.
 

• Dosage

Take as directed, usually 500mg daily.

• References

Morton, Dr. Walker, Olive Leaf Extract. Kensington Publishing Corp. November 1, 1997.

Ritchason, Jack, N.D., Olive Leaf Extract. Woodland Pub. August 1, 1999.

Privitera M.D. James R., Olive Leaf Extract: A New/ Old Healing Bonanza for Mankind. Nutriscreen, 1996.

Khayyal M, El-Ghazaly M, Abdalaha D, Nassar N, Okpanyi S, Kreuter M. Blood pressure lowering effect of an olive leaf extract (Olea eurpaea) in L-NAME induced hypertension in rats. ArzneimForschDrugRes. 2002;52(11):797-802

Hanbury D. On the febrifuge properties of the olive (Olea europea, L.), Pharmaceutical Journal of Provincial Transactions, pp. 353-354, 1854.

Cruess WV, and Alsberg CL, The bitter glucoside of the olive. J Amer. Chem. Soc. 1934; 56:2115-7.

Veer WLC et al. A Compound isolated from Europea. Recueil,1957; 76:839-40.

Panizzi L et al. The constitution of oleuropein, a bitter glucoside of the olive with hypotensive action. Gazz. Chim. Ital; 1960; 90:1449-85.

Renis HE, In vitro antiviral activity of calcium elenolate, an antiviral agent. Antimicrob. AgentsChemother., 1970; 167-72.

Petkov V and Manolov P, Pharmacological analysis of the iridoid oleuopein. Drug Res., 1972; 22(9); 1476-86.

Zarzuelo A et al, Vasodilator effect of olive leaf, Planta Med., 1991; 57(5)417-9.

The evaluation of long-term effects of cinnamon bark and olive leaf on toxicity induced by streptozotocin administration to rats. J Pharm Pharmacol 1999 Nov;51(11):1305-12.