The Antioxidant and Anti-proliferative Activity of the Lebanese Olea europaea Extract

Abstract

It is becoming increasingly evident that certain phytochemicals possess cancer chemopreventive properties. In this study, the anti-proliferative activity of plant extracts from olive (Olea europaea L.) leaves was tested on human leukemic cell line (Jurkat). Cytotoxicity of various concentrations of plant extracts was examined and the IC(50) was determined. Olive leaf extracts showed concentration-dependent anti-proliferative effect as determined by the WST-1 proliferation kit and [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation method. To study whether cell death was due to apoptosis, cells were stained with Annexin V-FITC and PI and the expression of important regulatory proteins (Bcl-2, Bax, and p53) involved in apoptosis were examined by Western blot. The antioxidant activity of olive leaves (SC(50) = 0.1 mg dry weight) was studied using the DPPH scavenging method. Present findings suggest that olive leaves extracts exhibit anti-proliferative effect on leukemic cells by inducing apoptosis.

Olive (Olea europaea L.) leaf extract counteracts genotoxicity and oxidative stress of permethrin in human lymphocytes

“…36 No. 5 oxidant activity of OLE was also determined in human leukemic cell line (Jurkat) (Fares et al, 2011). Again, OLE decreased the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human embryonic fibroblasts and H 2 O 2 -exposed in insulin secreting β-cells (Katsiki et al, 2007;Cumaoglu et al, 2011).…”

Bioavailability of Bioactive Molecules from Olive Leaf Extracts and its Functional Value

“…Despite the fact that previous research has already tested the anti-proliferative and/or cell killing abilities of different olive leaf extracts against leukemia cells (Abaza et al, 2007;Fares et al, 2011;Samet et al, 2014), none of them has proved whether the extracts maintained their anticancer properties once they entered the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, olive leaf extracts warrant further investigation into their potential antileukemic benefits.…”

A review: benefit and bioactive properties of olive (Olea europaea L.) leaves

“…Several studies have shown that olive leaf extract exhibits a large spectrum of in vitro and in vivo properties, including antioxidant activity [85,86], radio-protective effects [85], anti-proliferative effect on leukemia cells by inducing apoptosis [39,57,87,88], cytotoxic activity against human breast cancer cells [47,89], anti-HIV virus effect [90], antifungal activity [91], gastroprotective activities [92], attenuation of diabetic neuropathic pain [93] and amelioration of gentamicin nephrotoxicity [94]. Several biological properties such as antioxidant, anti-atherosclerotic, hypoglycemic and cardioprotective effects of olive leaves have been reviewed in the literature [76,82].…”