The effects of a polyphenol present in olive oil, oleuropein aglycone, in an experimental model of spinal cord injury in mice

Natural Polyphenols and Spinal Cord Injury

“…In this regard, it has been documented that oleuropein strongly inhibited the enzyme myeloperoxidase in the inflamed tissue [81]. Impellizzeri et al [64] documented a similar result after oleuropein aglycone treatment in an experimental model of SCI in mice. Visioli and colleagues [82] reported that oleuropein inhibits the respiratory burst of neutrophils and hypochlorous acid-derived radicals.…”

“…There is accumulating evidence that attributed the beneficial effects of olive oil phenols to a variety of biological activities, including free radical scavenging/antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, anti-microbial, anti-atherogenic, and antiviral properties [48, 49]. In addition, olive oil phenols have been shown to have some of the neuroprotective effects against brain hypoxia-reoxigenation [50, 51], cerebral ischemia [52, 53], and brain damage after hypoxia-reoxygenation in diabetic rats [54], ageing [55], Alzheimer’s diseases [56], Huntington’s disease [57], multiple sclerosis [58], Parkinson’s disease [59], peripheral neuropathy [60], and SCI [61-64]. It is well documented that olive oil polyphenols are able to cross the blood-brain barrier [65].…”

“…Meanwhile, oleuropein attenuated somewhat myelin degradation in the site of contusion [61]. Also, Impellizzeri et al [64] documented that oleuropein aglycone, a hydrolysis product obtained from oleuropein, in a mice model of spinal cord trauma significantly decreased lipid peroxidation. One of the neuroprotective mechanisms of dietary virgin olive oil and its phenolics in hypoxia-reoxygenation and transient focal cerebral ischemia may be due in part to its effects on free radical-induced lipid peroxidation [66-69].…”

“…Results of immunohistochemical assessment showed that the treatment with oleuropein reduced positive staining for Bax, while on the contrary, it increased positive staining for Bcl-2 in the oleuropein treatment groups after spinal cord trauma [61]. Also, Impellizzeri et al [64] documented that oleuropein aglycone significantly decreased FAS ligand, caspase 3, and Bax expression after spinal cord trauma. A finding in the model of brain hypoxia-reoxygenation showed that in rats treated with olive oil, brain cell death was 42.5% lower than in untreated rats [66].…”

“…Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that oleuropein treatment significantly attenuated the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β, and consequently expression of iNOS and COX-2 after traumatic SCI [62]. Meanwhile, pro-inflammatory cytokine production (such as TNF-α and IL-1β) and iNOS expression were significantly decreased after administration of oleuropein aglycone in spinal cord trauma [64]. It has been well established that olive phenolics inhibit iNOS activity or the inflammatory mediators that stimulate this enzyme following brain hypoxia-reoxygenation [66].…”