Sustainability, Innovation, and Green Chemistry in the Production and Valorization of Phenolic Extracts from Olea europaea L.

Abstract

This paper describes a circular economy process based on environmentally and economically sustainable procedures which was applied to the sector of olive oil processing on an industrial scale. Olea europaea L. tissues and by-products represent a renewable and low-cost source of polyphenols, in particular hydroxytyrosol (HTyr), a naturally occurring compound well known for its biological properties. Specifically, green leaves (GL), dried leaves (DL), and pitted olive pulp were treated with water in a pneumatic extractor to obtain the corresponding polyphenolic extracts. Three standardized fractions, named Soft Extract Olea GL, Soft Extract Olea DL, and Soft Extract Olea HTyr resulted after the following two steps: a separation process carried out by membrane technology, and a concentration step performed under reduced pressure and low temperature. The polyphenolic fractions showed antiradical activity and have potential industrial applications in the food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, feed, and agronomic fields. Novel functionalized extracts containing hydroxytyrosol methyl carbonate (HTyr-MC) were obtained from Soft Extract Olea HTyr through an innovative approach based on green chemistry procedures, which appear to be a promising tool to increase the applications of the polyphenolic extracts.

Synthesis and Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity of Lipophilic Phenethyl Trifluoroacetate Esters by In Vitro ABTS, DPPH and in Cell-Culture DCF Assays

“…In addition, it shows antimicrobial [ 25 ], antiviral [ 26 ] and antitumor effects [ 27 ]. The hydroxylated derivatives tyrosol 4 , homovanillyl alcohol 5 , and hydroxytyrosol 6 are low-weight molecular phenols present in extra-virgin olive oil and olive oil by-products [ 28 ], well known for their beneficial health effects. Hydroxytyrosol 6 is the most relevant compound, characterized by a potent anticancer and antioxidant activity [ 29 ].…”

Effect of Replacement of Synthetic vs. Natural Curing Agents on Quality Characteristics of Cinta Senese Frankfurter-Type Sausage

“…The extraction of polyphenols from olive oil byproducts is based on a water extraction and membrane separation system. This methodology was instead implemented at an industrial level by using physical technology (PCT/IT/2009/09425529 "Process for producing concentrated and refined active substances from tissues and by-products of Olea europaea L. with membrane technologies") considered sustainable technologies defined by Best Available Technology (BAT) and recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [20,21].…”

Hydroxytyrosol stimulates neurogenesis in aged dentate gyrus by enhancing stem and progenitor cell proliferation and neuron survival

“…In consideration of its hydrophilic character, HTyr is found also in olive oil by-products (olive oil wastewaters), from which it can be conveniently recovered by innovative technologies to obtain HTyr-enriched extracts exhibiting health beneficial effects. 21,22 The multiple biological properties of HTyr are well known, especially the antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. [23][24][25][26] In fact, HTyr reduces oxidative stress in brain slices undergoing such stress, that is, lipid peroxidation, peroxynitrite formation, and production of inflammatory mediators (prostaglandin E2 and interleukin 1beta) 27 ; similarly, HTyr protects in vitro from oxidative stress, by rescuing either PC12 cells or SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells from 6-hydroxydopamine-induced damage, from L-DOPA toxicity or preventing hydrogen peroxide-induced death.…”