title: Factors affecting the contents of iridoid oleuropein in olive leaves (Olea europaea L.).
abstract: In this study, for the first time, the impact of the genetic factor on the contents of oleuropein in olive leaves was not only evaluated but the influence exerted by the color/age of leaves (green, green-yellowish, and yellow) and the collecting period (spring or autumn) was also evaluated. A repetitive high-resolution gas chromatographic quantitation method and an accurate high-performance liquid chromatographic method were developed. These analytical methods gave results showing a highly linear relationship. Samples of olive leaves were taken from seven major Italian olive cultivars, such as Dritta, Leccino, Caroleo, Coratina, Castiglionese, Nebbio, and Grossa di Cassano. Such a vegetal raw material could actually be exploited for recovering oleuropein, considered to be a high-added value molecule. This could be converted into hydrxytyrosol, a compound known to possess strong bioactive properties. Olive leaves showed considerable contents of oleuropein, which with some cultivars were even higher with respect to those present in the corresponding olive fruits (reported in the literature). The amounts of oleuropein in the collected leaves were markedly modified by the color/age and genetic factors, whereas meaningless variations were ascribable to the quantitation method and the collecting period factors. Various chemometrics, applied to the obtained analytical data, appeared to be effective in discriminating the samples on the basis of the above-examined experimental factors, thus confirming how these should be taken into account in future industrial recovery of oleuropein from olive leaves.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Sperimentale per l'Elaiotecnica, Viale Petruzzi 75, 65013 Città S. Angelo, Pescara, Italy. alfonso.ranalli@entecra.it
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ranalli
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Contento
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lucera
authors.forename: Moira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Febo
authors.forename: Donato
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marchegiani
authors.forename: Vittoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Fonzo
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D003116:Color; D057888:Iridoid Glucosides; D039823:Iridoids / Q000032:analysis*; D031658:Olea / Q000737:chemistry*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D011714:Pyrans / Q000032:analysis*; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D057888:Iridoid Glucosides; D039823:Iridoids; D011714:Pyrans; C002769:oleuropein