scholarly journals Spices, Condiments, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Aromas as Not Only Flavorings, but Precious Allies for Our Wellbeing

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 868
Author(s):  
Irene Dini ◽  
Sonia Laneri

Spices, condiments and extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) are crucial components of human history and nutrition. They are substances added to foods to improve flavor and taste. Many of them are used not only to flavor foods, but also in traditional medicine and cosmetics. They have antioxidant, antiviral, antibiotic, anticoagulant and antiinflammatory properties and exciting potential for preventing chronic degenerative diseases such as cardiomyopathy and cancer when used in the daily diet. Research and development in this particular field are deeply rooted as the consumer inclination towards natural products is significant. It is essential to let consumers know the beneficial effects of the daily consumption of spices, condiments and extra virgin olive oil so that they can choose them based on effects proven by scientific works and not by the mere illusion that plant products are suitable only because they are natural and not chemicals. The study begins with the definition of spices, condiments and extra virgin olive oil. It continues by describing the pathologies that can be prevented with a spicy diet and it concludes by considering the molecules responsible for the beneficial effects on human health (phytochemical) and their eventual transformation when cooked.

Antioxidants ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele Serreli ◽  
Monica Deiana

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) polyphenols beneficial effects have widely been debated throughout the last three decades, with greater attention to hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol, which are by far the most studied. The main concern about the evaluation of EVOO phenols activities in vitro and in vivo is that the absorption and metabolism of these compounds once ingested lead to the production of different metabolites in the human body. EVOO phenols in the ingested forms are less concentrated in human tissues than their glucuronide, sulfate and methyl metabolites; on the other hand, metabolites may undergo deconjugation before entering the cells and thus act as free forms or may be reformed inside the cells so acting as conjugated forms. In most in vitro studies the presence of methyl/sulfate/glucuronide functional groups does not seem to inhibit biological activity. Parent compounds and metabolites have been shown to reach tissue concentrations useful to exert beneficial effects others than antioxidant and scavenging properties, by modulating intracellular signaling and improving cellular response to oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory stimuli. This review aims to give an overview on the reported evidence of the positive effects exerted by the main EVOO polyphenols metabolites in comparison with the parent compounds.


Antioxidants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 885
Author(s):  
Álvaro Santana-Garrido ◽  
Claudia Reyes-Goya ◽  
M. Carmen Pérez-Camino ◽  
Helder André ◽  
Alfonso Mate ◽  
...  

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ocular diseases, including hypertensive eye diseases. The beneficial effects of olive oil on cardiovascular diseases might rely on minor constituents. Currently, very little is known about the chemical composition and/or therapeutic effects of the cultivated olive tree’s counterpart, wild olive (also known in Spain as acebuche—ACE). Here, we aimed to analyze the antioxidant and retinoprotective effects of ACE oil on the eye of hypertensive mice made hypertensive via administration of NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME), which were subjected to a dietary supplementation with either ACE oil or extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) for comparison purposes. Deep analyses of major and minor compounds present in both oils was accompanied by blood pressure monitoring, morphometric analyses, as well as different determinations of oxidative stress-related parameters in retinal layers. Aside from its antihypertensive effect, an ACE oil-enriched diet reduced NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) oxidase activity/gene/protein expression (with a major implication of NADPH oxidase (NOX)2 isoform) in the retinas of hypertensive mice. Supplementation with ACE oil in hypertensive animals also improved alterations in nitric oxide bioavailability and in antioxidant enzyme profile. Interestingly, our findings show that the use of ACE oil resulted in better outcomes, compared with reference EVOO, against hypertension-related oxidative retinal damage.


Author(s):  
Rosa Casas ◽  
Ramon Estruch ◽  
Emilio Sacanella

Background and Objective: The increasing interest in the Mediterranean diet (MeDiet) hinges on the relevant role it plays in inflammatory diseases. Several clinical, epidemiological and experimental evidences suggest that consumption of the MeDiet reduces the incidence of certain pathologies related to oxidative stress, chronic inflammation and immune system diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). These reductions can be partially attributed to extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) consumption which has been described as a key bioactive food because of its high nutritional quality and its particular composition of fatty acids, vitamins and polyphenols. Indeed, the beneficial effects of EVOO have been linked to its fatty acid composition, which is very rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and has moderate saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The current knowledge available on the beneficial effects of EVOO and its phenolic compounds, specifically its biological properties and antioxidant capacity against immune-mediated inflammatory responses (atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, obesity, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease or neurodegenerative disease, among others) in addition to its potential clinical applications. Conclusion: The increasing body of studies carried out provides compelling evidence that olive polyphenols are potential candidates to combat chronic inflammatory states.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-43
Author(s):  
Paula Silva ◽  
María Rodríguez-Pérez ◽  
Óscar Gómez-Torres ◽  
Emma Burgos-Ramos

Abstract Olive oil and wine are consumed daily worldwide and they constitute the fundamental pillars of the healthy Mediterranean diet. Polyphenolic compounds, naturally present in both olive oil and wine, are responsible for their beneficial properties. Current studies have shown the neuroprotective effects of polyphenols independently of their well-known antioxidant action. In this work, we have focused on reviewing the protective effect of polyphenols from extra virgin olive oil and wine in Alzheimer´s disease (AD), to emphasize that both food could be a possible therapeutic tool. Beneficial effects have been described in β-aggregation, neurofibrillary tangles, autophagy and mitochondrial function, as well as in cerebral insulin resistance. Furthermore, to date a harmful dose has not been described. Both preclinical and clinical works demonstrate that polyphenols act on neuropathological and cognitive disorders of AD, preventing or stopping the onset of this devastating disease. However, there are certain limitations in these studies, since it is very difficult to research diseases that lead to cognitive impairment. Although all the findings obtained are very encouraging, more studies should be carried out to use the polyphenols from olive oil and wine as therapeutic agents in the progression of AD. Therefore, more longitudinal studies in humans with a homogeneous cohort of patients are necessary to corroborate the efficacy of these nutraceuticals, as well as analyze which is the most appropriate dose for this purpose.


Author(s):  
Caterina M. Gambino ◽  
Giulia Accardi ◽  
Anna Aiello ◽  
Giuseppina Candore ◽  
Giovanni Dara-Guccione ◽  
...  

Background and Objective: Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is the common element among the Mediterranean countries. It can be considered a nutraceutical and functional food, thanks to its bioactive compounds. It can act and modulate different processes linked to ageing and age-related diseases related to a common chronic low grade inflammation. Depending on the cultivar, the growth conditions, the period of harvesting, the productive process and time of product storage, EVOO could contain different amount of vegetal components. Of course, the same is for table olives. Methods: The aim of our review is to summarize the effects of EVOO and table olives on the immunemediated inflammatory response, focusing our attention on human studies. Results: Our report highlights the effect of specific molecules obtained from EVOO on the modulation of specific cytokines and anti-oxidants suggesting the importance of the daily consumption of both EVOO and table olives in the context of a Mediterranean dietary pattern. In addition, the different action on immune-inflammatory biomarkers, are depending on the olive tree cultivar. Conclusion: Thanks to their bioactive compounds, EVOO and table olive can be considered as nutraceutical and functional foods. The beneficial effects analysed in this review will help to understand the potential application of specific olive components as therapeutic adjuvant, supplements or drugs.


Medicine ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 98 (42) ◽  
pp. e17528
Author(s):  
Julián Olalla ◽  
José M. García de Lomas ◽  
Natalia Chueca ◽  
Xavier Pérez-Stachowski ◽  
Adolfo De Salazar ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 106 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuliana Trefiletti ◽  
Anna Rita Togna ◽  
Valentina Latina ◽  
Carolina Marra ◽  
Marcella Guiso ◽  
...  

Extra-virgin olive oil is an integral ingredient of the Mediterranean diet, and it has been suggested that its high consumption has beneficial effects on human health. Its protective effect, in particular against the development of CVD, has been related not only to the high content of oleic acid, but also to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of polyphenols. In order to verify the anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic properties of hydroxy-isochromans, a class of ortho-diphenols present in extra-virgin olive oil, we investigated the potential ability of 1-phenyl-6,7-dihydroxy-isochroman (L137) to modulate the production of key inflammatory mediators by human monocytes, by evaluating its in vitro effects on prostanoid (thromboxane A2 and PGE2) and cytokine (TNF-α) production. Its effect on the protein expression of the inducible form of cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2), a pro-inflammatory enzyme responsible for elevated prostanoid levels, was also explored. The results showed that L137 significantly inhibited both prostanoid and TNF-α production in lipopolysaccharide-primed human monocytes in a dose-dependent manner, by inhibiting the COX activity of COX-2. We also demonstrated that the effects of the isochroman are mediated, at least partly, through the suppression of NF-κB activation leading to the down-regulation of the synthesis of COX-2.


2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 218-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimiliano Migliori ◽  
Vincenzo Panichi ◽  
Rafael de la Torre ◽  
Montserrat Fitó ◽  
Maribel Covas ◽  
...  

Background: Mediterranean-style diet has been considered for its important beneficial effects on the progression of CV disease. Wine is an important component of the Mediterranean diet, and moderate wine drinkers have lower mortality rates than nondrinkers and heavy drinkers in epidemiologic studies. The beneficial effects of red wine are thought to be dependent on the polyphenol compounds such as resveratrol that exhibit potent antioxidant activity. However, white wine, although lacking polyphenols, contains simple phenols, such as tyrosol (Tyr) and hydroxytyrosol (OH-Tyr), characteristic also of extra-virgin olive oil, which may share similar antioxidant and inflammatory properties. Patients and Methods: The effect of white wine and extra-virgin olive oil on inflammatory markers was evaluated in 10 healthy volunteers and in 10 patients with CKD (chronic kidney disease) K-DOQI stage III-IV in a prospective, single blind, randomized, cross-over trial. After two weeks of wash-out from alcoholic beverages, subjects were randomized to a cross-over design A-B or B-A of a 2-week treatment with white wine (4 ml/kg body weight, 0.48 g/kg of alcohol 12%, corresponding to 2-3 glasses/daily) and extra-virgin olive oil (treatment A) or extra-virgin olive oil alone (treatment B). The two study periods were separated by a two-week wash-out period. At baseline and at the end of each treatment, plasma levels of inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) concentration were determined. Urinary levels of Tyr, OH-Tyr, and their metabolites were measured at the same time. Results: During combined consumption of white wine and extra-virgin olive oil (treatment A), plasma levels of CRP and IL-6 decreased from 4.1 ± 1.8 to 2.4 ± 1.9 mg/l (p < 0.05) and from 5.3 ± 3.2 to 3.4 ± 2.3 mg/l (p < 0.05) in CKD patients. CRP decreased from 2.6 ± 1.2 to 1.9 ± 0.9 mg/l (p < 0.05), and IL-6 decreased from 2.2 ± 1.8 to 1.7 ± 1.3 mg/l (p = ns) in healthy volunteers. No significant variation versus baseline was observed during treatment B. A significant increase in urinary Tyr and OH-Tyr was observed during treatment A (white wine and extra-virgin olive oil). Conclusions: Plasma markers of chronic inflammation were significantly reduced in CKD patients during the combined consumption of white wine and olive oil, suggesting a possible anti-inflammatory effect of this nutritional intervention.


Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1993
Author(s):  
Álvaro Santana-Garrido ◽  
Claudia Reyes-Goya ◽  
Santiago Milla-Navarro ◽  
Pedro de la Villa ◽  
Helder André ◽  
...  

Inflammation plays a crucial role in the course of eye diseases, including many vascular retinopathies. Although olive oil is known to have beneficial effects against inflammatory processes, there is no information available on the anti-inflammatory potential of the wild olive tree (namely, acebuche (ACE) for the primitive Spanish lineages). Here we investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of ACE oil in the retina of a mouse model of arterial hypertension, which was experimentally induced by administration of L-NAME (NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester). The animals were fed supplements of ACE oil or extra virgin olive oil (EVOO, for comparative purposes). Retinal function was assessed by electroretinography (ERG), and different inflammation-related parameters were measured in the retina and choroid. Besides significant prevention of retinal dysfunction shown in ERG recordings, ACE oil-enriched diet upregulated the expression of the anti-inflammatory markers PPARγ, PPARα and IL-10, while reducing that of major proinflammatory biomarkers, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and COX-2. This is the first report to highlight the anti-inflammatory properties of an ACE oil-enriched diet against hypertension-related retinal damage. Noteworthy, dietary supplementation with ACE oil yielded better results compared to a reference EVOO.


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