Neuroprotective effects of oleuropein: Recent developments and contemporary research

Abstract

Neurological disorders are increasing at a faster pace due to oxidative stress, protein aggregation, excitotoxicity, and neuroinflammation. It is reported that the Mediterranean diet including olives as a major dietary component prevents and ameliorates neurological anomalies. Oleuropein is the major bioactive component in different parts of the Olive (Olea europaea L.) tree. Several mechanisms have been reported for the neuroprotective role of oleuropein including induction of apoptosis and autophagy, enhancing the antioxidant pool of the cerebral region, decreasing the unnecessary release of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines by deactivating the microglia cells and astrocytes thus preventing the occurrence of neuroinflammation. Regular intake of oleuropein seems to be correlated with decreased risks of neural disorders including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, strokes, depression, anxiety, epilepsy, and others. This review majorly discusses the chemistry, biosynthesis, and metabolism of oleuropein along with an updated vision of its neuroprotective role in counteracting the acute and chronic neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. Moreover, mechanisms by which oleuropein may prevent neurodegeneration are reviewed. Practical application Neurological disorders are negatively affecting the health and life quality of individuals around the globe. Although various medicinal solutions are available to tackle such ailments, none has proven to fully cure and being deprived of side effects. In this respect, the prevention of such disorders using natural remedies may be an effective strategy to overcome the incidence of the increasing cases. Furthermore, the natural compounds provide a safer alternative to pharmaceutical drugs. Hence, oleuropein from olive tree products is found to be efficacious against neurological disorders. This review provides an updated insight on the positive effects of oleuropein against neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. The diet practitioners and nutraceutical companies may benefit from the provided information to design and develop strategies to improve the mental health of suffering individuals.

Neuroprotective Panel of Olive Polyphenols: Mechanisms of Action, Anti-Demyelination, and Anti-Stroke Properties

“…In fact, in the chemical structure of oleuropein there are hydroxyl groups that are hydrogen donors and thus protect against oxidation. Its effects include increasing the antioxidant capacity of the brain and reducing the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, thus preventing neuroinflammation [ 67 ]. Several in vitro studies [ 68 , 69 , 70 ] confirmed that oleuropein suppresses the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, reduces the release of myeloperoxidase by human neutrophils, and thus reduces the formation of hypochlorous acid.…”

Nutritional interventions for the prevention and treatment of neurological disorders such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and schizophrenia

“…Neurological disorders including anxiety, bipolar disorder (BD), depression, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis (MS), and schizophrenia are posing a signi icant societal burden due to their devastating effects, including life-long disability to the aging population. Recent evidence has shown that oxidative stress and neuro-in lammation play crucial roles in the onset of neurological disorders [1][2][3]. Despite the importance of oxygen for life and in biological processes such as transcription and signaling, oxygen can cause damage to biological molecules via the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals including superoxide, hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide by univalent reduction [4][5][6].…”

Therapeutic Properties and Use of Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Clinical Nutrition: A Narrative Review and Literature Update

“…Nevertheless, oral luteolin supplementation in a quasi-experimental study was not superior to placebo at reducing symptoms of Gulf War Illness, a neuroinflammatory condition [ 336 ]. Oleuropein has demonstrated neuroprotective effects in animal models of cerebral ischemia, cerebral reperfusion injury, ageing, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, peripheral neuropathy, spinal cord injury, and epilepsy [ 337 , 338 ]. With respect to Alzheimer’s disease, oleocanthal was shown to increase neuronal clearance of β-amyloid by increasing P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and LDL receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1) levels in mouse brains [ 339 ], while restoring the blood–brain barrier function and reducing neuroinflammation through inhibition of PYD domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and inducing autophagy through activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase/Unc-51-like autophagy activating kinase 1 (AMPK/ULK1) pathway [ 340 ].…”