title: Effects of the olive tree leaf constituents on myocardial oxidative damage and atherosclerosis.
abstract: The olive (Olea europaea) leaf is considered an important traditional herbal medicine utilized against infectious diseases, and for the treatment of diabetes and hypertension. Moreover, olive leaf constituents have been related to cardioprotection, probably due to their association with cellular redox modulating effects. The pathogenesis of certain common diseases, including those of the cardiovascular system, involves oxidative stress and tissue inflammation. Olive polyphenolic compounds, such as oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, or tyrosol, possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiatherosclerotic, anti-ischemic, and hypolipidemic effects on the myocardium as demonstrated by various in vitro and in vivo studies. In this review article, we summarize the current knowledge on the role of the olive leaf constituents in the prevention of cardiac dysfunction and highlight future perspectives in their use as cardioprotective agents in therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Efentakis
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Cardiology, University of Athens Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Efstathios K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Iliodromitis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mikros
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papachristodoulou
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Cardiology, University of Athens Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dagres
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacognocy and Chemistry of Natural Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Alexios-Leandros
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Skaltsounis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioanna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Andreadou
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D031658:Olea / Q000737:chemistry*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D059808:Polyphenols; D020011:Protective Agents