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26 Páginas.-- 3 Tablas.-- 2 Figuras, Aim To assess whether the regular intake of an oleanolic acid (OA)‐enriched olive oil is effective in the prevention of diabetes. Methods In the PREDIABOLE study, prediabetic individuals (impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance) of both sexes (176 patients, aged 30‐80 years) were randomized to receive 55 mL/day of OA‐enriched olive oil (equivalent dose 30 mg OA/day) [intervention group (IG)] or the same oil not enriched [control group (CG)]. The main outcome was the incidence of new‐onset type 2 diabetes in both groups. Results Forty‐eight new diabetes cases occurred, 31 in the CG and 17 in the IG. The multivariate‐adjusted hazard ratio was 0.45 (95% CI, 0.24‐0.83) for the IG compared with the CG. Intervention‐related adverse effects were not reported. Conclusions The intake of OA‐enriched olive oil reduces the risk of developing diabetes in prediabetic patients. The results of the PREDIABOLE study promote the use of OA in new functional foods and drugs for the prevention of diabetes in individuals at risk of developing it., The authors especially thank the ACESUR Group (Dos Hermanas, Seville, Spain), which donated all the commercial olive oil for the trial. This collaborator had no role in the design, collection, analysis or interpretation of the data or in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. The authors also express their gratitude to Dr. Alberto Gil‐Peralta, Neurology Service of the Virgen del Rocío University Hospital (Seville, Spain), for the critical reading of the manuscript and his helpful comments. CIBEROBN is an initiative of Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain. The PREDIABOLE study was supported by the official funding agency for biomedical research of the Spanish Government, ISCIII, through the Fondo de Investigación para la Salud (FIS), which is co‐funded by the European Regional Development Fund, including the following projects: PI10/00913 (led by J.M.S.‐L.) and PI10/01415 (led by J.A.C.). The study was also supported by a grant of Consejería de Salud de la Junta de Andalucía (PI‐0037/2008, led by J.M.S.‐L.). None of the funding sources took part in the design, collection, analysis or interpretation of the data or in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

This work was supported in part by grants from Comision Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CICYT, AGL2008-02258) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FIS-ISCIII, PI010/01415) partially financed by the European Regional Development Fund of the EU. The authors also express their gratitude to Dr Ruiz-Gutierrez for the supply of human serum samples for the pharmacokinetic study.

11 Páginas.-- 6 Figuras.-- 1 Tabla, This work investigates the role of oleanolic acid (OA), isolated from the olive (Olea europaea L.) leaf, as a radical scavenger and inhibitor of the hydrolyzing enzymes of dietary carbohydrates. New evidence is provided showing that OA may capture 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) and peroxyl radicals, and also exert a strong and non-competitive inhibition of a-glucosidase (IC 10.11 ± 0.30 μM). The kinetic and spectrometric analyses performed indicate that OA interacts with this enzyme inside a hydrophobic pocket, through an endothermic and non spontaneous process of a hydrophobic nature. These are two possible mechanisms by which OA may facilitate a better control of post-prandial hyperglycaemia and oxidative stress, so contributing to preserving insulin signalling. Obesity, insulin resistance and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus are considered the first pandemics of the 21st century. In this sense, OA might be used in future preventive and therapeutic strategies, as an ingredient in new drugs and functional foods., The Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Carlos III Institute of Health) financed the research project PI10/01415. The authors wish to thank the Andalusian Public System of Health (Spain) and the ACESUR Group for making the PREDIABOLE Study possible.

This work tackles the study of the quality and authenticity of oils labeled and commercialized as extra virgin sacha inchi oil. Major and minor components as triglycerides, fatty acid methyl esters, tocopherols, sterols and hydrocarbons are determined as well as other physicochemical parameters (density, viscosity, acidity and peroxide value). The results showed that some of the commercialized oils do not fulfill the basic requirement established in the regulation such as the content of ¿-linolenic acid, higher than 44.7 or 55.0% in the cases of P. volubilis and P. huayllabambana, respectively. The calculated stigmasterol/campesterol ratio for genuine sacha inchi oils should be around 4, however not all commercial oils analyzed comply with this requirement. The presence of the flavons sesamin and sesamolin indicates the addition of compounds from sesame oils. Finally, some of the commercial oils showed to contain trans fatty acids although this was not accompanied by the sterene hydrocarbon presence., The financial support of Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID) is gratefully acknowledge (Project AP/036672/11) and the Instituto de Investigación Científica (IDIC) de la Universidad de Lima-Perú (PI.56.006.2015). The authors would like to thank Mr. JL Rios for his assistance in the MS analysis.

This work aims to contribute to controlling the authenticity of pure argan oil, a valuable Moroccan product. Fatty acids, hydrocarbon fraction, 3,5-stigmastadiene, the alkyl esters of fatty acids, chlorophyllic pigments and physical properties such as viscosity, density and refractive index were studied in order to detect the adulteration of argan oil with edible vegetable oils. The results found in this study show that 3,5-stigmastadiene, kaurene and pheophytin-a can be used as possible new markers for argan oil blends of up to 5% with refined, sunflower and virgin olive oils. Due to the similarity of the fatty acid compositions of the edible oils studied and argan oil, fatty acids can be employed as markers for the detection of argan oil adulteration at levels higher than 10%. Among the physical properties studied, the refractive index shows significant differences for sunflower oil and its blend at 10% with argan oil.El objetivo principal de este trabajo es contribuir al control de la autenticidad del aceite argán, un producto marroquí muy valorado. Con el fin de detectar la adulteración del aceite de argán con aceites vegetales comestibles, se han estudiado los siguientes parámetros: ácidos grasos, fracción de hidrocarburos, 3,5-estigmastadieno, ésteres alquílicos, pigmentos clorofílicos y propiedades físicas como la viscosidad, densidad e índice de refracción. Los resultados de este estudio muestran que el 3,5-estigmastadieno, kaureno y la feofitina-a podrían utilizarse como nuevos marcadores en la detección del aceite de argán adulterado con aceites refinados y aceite oliva virgen al 5%. La composición en ácidos grasos puede emplearse para la detección de la adulteración del aceite de argán a niveles superiores al 10%, debido a la similitud en la composición de los aceites estudiados. Entre las propiedades físicas analizadas, el índice de refracción mostró diferencias significativas entre el aceite de argán y sus mezclas con el aceite de girasol al 10%.

6 páginas, 4 figuras, 1 tabla., Terpenic acids are under development as therapeutic agents in numerous treatments. In support of pharmacokinetic and toxicological evaluations, a robust assay based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed for the analysis of the terpenoids in human serum. For a clear understanding of the differences in biological activity of these compounds, the interactions between oleanolic or betulinic acids and human serum protein have been studied by ultraviolet−visible (UV−vis) absorption under physiological conditions. A combination of liquid/liquid extraction, centrifugation, and consecutive HPLC resulted in simultaneous separation, identification, and quantification of the oleanolic, betulinic, and ursolic acids. The validity of the developed method was established by determining linearity, recovery, precision, accuracy, limit of detection, and quantification. Detection limits were in the range of 3.3−4.3 ng/mL, and linearity values ranged up to 1 μg/mL. The repeatability of the method was good. All compounds can be well-distinguished by order of elution during liquid chromatography. The pentacyclic triterpenoids have been identified by retention time comparison to pure standards and quantified by an internal standard. The results by UV−vis absorption spectra experiments (240−340 nm) indicate that protein structures have been perturbed in the presence of oleanolic and betulinic acids., This work was supported in part by grants from Comision Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CICYT, AGL2008-02258), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (RETICS, RD06/0045), and Exxentia Group (110101080017 21).

This work reports for the first time the presence of pentacyclic triterpenic acids in Argania spinosa. By solid/liquid extraction with absolute ethanol and GC-FID analysis, we report that ursolic acid is the major triterpene in the leaf and fruit of argan (0.10-0.44% DW), followed by significant amounts of oleanolic acid (0.05-0.19% DW). Their contents in the leaf were four times higher than in the fruit. Minor levels of betulinic and maslinic acids were also determined in the fruit pulp. Our results suggest that the developmental stage of the plant organ and the environmental conditions modulate the biosynthesis of triterpenic acids in argan. Advanced stages of ontogeny and severe climatic conditions induced a selective production of lupenyl and ursanyl structures. Argan fruits and leaves constitute interesting raw materials for the obtaining of ursolic and oleanolic acids that are strongly demanded by the functional food and pharmaceutical industries. The utilization of dry pulp of argan fruits, a by-product of the argan oil industry, for the obtaining of new triterpene-based formulations of high added value would increase the profitability of these crops and might help to guarantee the survival of the A. spinosa forests in the long term. Practical applications: Argan fruits and leaves constitute interesting raw materials for obtaining ursolic and oleanolic acids. Morocco accumulates every year more than 44500tons of dry fruit pulp as a by-product of the argan oil industry. The utilization of this biomass for the obtaining of bioactive compounds of high added value that could be used in the design of new functional food and drugs would help to increase the profitability of the argan crops and represent an intelligent manner of contributing to the A. spinosa survival. © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim., Spanish Agency for the International Cooperation (AECID-MAE). Grant Number: A/019935/08

The suitability of using visible/near infrared spectroscopy (Vis/NIR), as a rapid and non-destructive technique for monitoring the quality of argan seeds (Argania spinosa Skeels) was studied. The analyzed parameters were the fatty acid composition of argan seed oil, seed moisture content, seed oil content and oil stability index (OSI). The ratio between major unsaturated and saturated fatty acids (U/S) during the oxidation assay at constant temperature was studied. Values from infrared drying were used as a laboratory reference for the moisture. Argan seed oil content was determined by Soxhlet extraction. A fatty acid analysis was carried out by gas chromatography and the OSI was determined by the Rancimat test. Predictive models of argan seed moisture, ratio U/S and OSI showed good accuracy. Therefore, Vis/NIR measurements can be used for controlling several argan seed quality parameters. This procedure might be of interest to the argan oil industry, which is currently in the process of modernization and expansion., The authors are grateful to the Spanish Agency for the International Cooperation (AECID-MAE) for financing the Project A/019935/08. They also express their gratitude to the industrial plant Argan Oil Company Ltd. Morocco for the argan seed supply.

Countercurrent supercritical fluid extraction (CC-SFE) at a pilot scale plant was used for fractionation of high-added-value products from a raw extract of olive leaves in hexane. Compounds found in the raw extract were waxes, hydrocarbons, squalene, beta-carotene, triglycerides, alpha-tocopherol, beta-sitosterol, and alcohols. The CC-SFE extraction process was investigated according to a 2(3) full factorial experimental design using the following variables and ranges: extraction pressure, 75-200 bar; extraction temperature, 35-50 degrees C; and ethanol as modifier, 0-10%. Data were analyzed in terms of extraction yield, enrichment, recovery, and selectivity. Higher extraction yields were attained at 200 bar. For most of the compounds analyzed enrichment was attained at the same conditions, that is, 75 bar, 35 degrees C, and 10% ethanol. Hydrocarbons were usually recovered in the separators, whereas waxes and alpha-tocopherol remain in the raffinate. Selectivity data reveal that alpha-tocopherol is the most easily separable compound. The influence of the experimental factors on the recovery of all the compounds was studied by means of regression models. The best fitted model was attained for beta-sitosterol, with R2 = 99.25%.

A method was studied for utilization of olive leaf, which is a byproduct of olive tree pruning and olive oil production. Our strategy involves two stages. The first is a simple procedure for isolating oleanolic acid, a compound with known biological activity. The second stage involves supplementation of different types of oil with this triterpenic acid. Two protocols were used for incorporating this acid into oils, either as a solid or as a solution, at concentrations from 200 to 1000 ppm. Oleanolic acid in the prepared oils was quantified by gas liquid chromatography. At the concentrations analyzed, the oleanolic acid content measured in all oil samples was equal to the amount added (p

This work deals with the characterization of the main glyceridic and unsaponifiable components of oils obtained from Sacha inchi (Plukenetia huayllabambana L.) seed ecotypes collected during two harvests in the Department of Amazonas in Peru. The seed-oil yield was 30.3¿41.2%; standing out are the high percentages of the ¿3- and ¿6-fatty acids series whose ranges lie within those of the present Regulation for Sacha inchi oils. Triacylglycerols with even equivalent carbon number (ECN; 36¿42) were the main components. Minor glyceridic polar compounds such as oxidized triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, and free fatty acids were determined by high-performance size exclusion chromatography. The low campesterol/stigmasterol ratio (1:6), unusual in the majority of vegetable oils, stands out. Regarding aliphatic hydrocarbons, these oils showed a particular profile for the saturated series of odd and even carbon atom numbers. According to our results Sacha inchi P. huayllabambana oils can be offered as a good alternative to P. volubilis, the species mainly commercialized for this vegetable oil., The Spanish AECID funded the project AP/036672/11 and the Scientific Institute of Investigation of Lima University (IDIC)- Perú, funded part of this work.

The effects of microwave treatments on the thermoxidative degradation of five edible fats and oils (sunflower oil, high oleic sunflower oil, virgin olive oil, olive oil, and lard) were determined. ...

Effects of microwave energy and conventional heating on physical and chemical parameters of five edible oils and fats (virgin olive oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, high oleic sunflower oil, and lard) were investigated. These fats and oils were subjected to three well-controlled treatments: heating in conventional electric oven, heating by microwave energy, and exposure to microwave energy, respectively. The effect of microwave heating on the visible spectrum, K232 and K270, density, viscosity, and squalene and trans-isomer contents of fats and oils was worse than that produced by heating the same fats in a conventional oven at the same temperature, time, surface/volume ratio, and light conditions. Subjecting fats and oils to microwave energy under the same conditions, but below 40 °C, did not produce considerable variations in the same parameters when compared to the original ones. Keywords: Microwave oven; heating effect; chemical and physical parameters; edible fats and oils

Oleanolic acid (OA), a natural component of many plant food and medicinal herbs, is endowed with a wide range of pharmacological properties whose therapeutic potential has only partly been exploited until now. Throughout complex and multifactorial mechanisms, OA exerts beneficial effects against diabetes and metabolic syndrome. It improves insulin response, preserves functionality and survival of β-cells, and protects against diabetes complications. OA may directly modulate enzymes connected to insulin biosynthesis, secretion, and signaling. However, its major contributions appear to be derived from the interaction with important transduction pathways, and many of its effects are consistently related to activation of the transcription factor Nrf2. Doing that, OA induces the expression of antioxidant enzymes and phase II response genes, blocks NF-κB, and represses the polyol pathway, AGEs production, and hyperlipidemia. The management of type 2 diabetes requires an integrated approach, which includes the early intervention to prevent or delay the disease progression, and the use of therapies to control glycemia and lipidemia in its late stages. In this sense, the use of functional foods or drugs containing OA is, undoubtedly, an interesting path.

An analytical method has been developed to study, as a whole, the hydrocarbon fractionother than squaleneof virgin olive oils. This method was applied to the study of oils from representative olive varieties of Spanish olive groves: Arbequina, Cornicabra, Empeltre, Hojiblanca, and Picual. The composition profiles of some of the hydrocarbons of oils from the above mentioned varieties are shown in this paper. The ranges of concentration in milligram per kilogram of oil of these hydrocarbons are also shown. Significant differences in the content of some hydrocarbons of the five varieties analyzed were observed. These quantitative differences were used to distinguish between virgin olive oils from different olive varieties. Keywords: Virgin olive oil; hydrocarbons; olive varieties

Methods are described for the direct determination of Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni and Pb by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in sunflower oil and olive oils. Metallic contamination after storage under different controlled conditions and in contact with carbon steel, austenitic steel, ferritic steel and aluminum was examined. Additionally, chemical characteristics related to quality (acid value, peroxide value, K270 and oxidative stability) and some physical parameters of interest were evaluated after storage. When the samples were atomized directly off the tube wall, matrix interferences were not observed in the determination of Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb, whereas such interferences were noted when Al and Fe were determined. The results indicated that the L'Vov platform for Al and Fe determinations eliminates the matrix effects. Contamination with Fe was only detected in the olive oil that had been in contact with carbon steel, Fe concentration increased from 120±12 to 3,520±157 ppb. The physicochemical characteristics were affected only by the storage conditions, regardless of the metal sheets with which they were in contact. Virgin olive oil showed lowered stability after storage in contact with a carbon-steel sheet than when stored in absence of metal.

This work establishes a new procedure for the extraction and analysis of pentacyclic triterpenes, with which fruits and leaves from three Spanish olive cultivars (“Picual”, “Hojiblanca”, and “Arbequina”) has been studied. The leaf contains important amounts of oleanolic acid (3.0−3.5% DW), followed by significant concentrations of maslinic acid and minor levels of ursolic acid, erythrodiol, and uvaol. The abundance and profile of triterpenoids change during the leaf ontogeny. In the fruit, triterpenes are exclusively located in the epicarp at concentrations 30-fold lower than that in the leaf. Maslinic acid is the main triterpenoid, only accompanied of oleanolic acid. Along the ripening the levels of these triterpenes decreased. All the analyzed leaves and fruits come from the same agricultural estate, with identical climate and culturing conditions. For this reason, the found differences could majorly be attributable to the genetic factors of the olive cultivars.

8 pages, 1 figure, 4 tables., The present study was conducted to know the possible influence of the seed treatment, method of extraction and geographical origin on the quality and chemical composition of argan oil. Artisanally and semiautomatically extracted argan oils, from roasted and unroasted seeds, from interior and coast areas, were studied. The quality parameters analyzed were acid value, peroxide value, K232 and K270, triacylglycerols and fatty acid composition, polar compounds, total phenols, tocopherol content and oil stability index (OSI). Seed treatment and extraction method showed a higher influence on quality parameters than geographical area; the quality parameters of the different oils were discussed. The total phenolic content in all analyzed samples was lower than 10 ppm. γ-Tocopherol was the major tocopherol (84.4-86.4%) with a high contribution to the total tocopherol content (383-485 ppm). The OSI of the argan oil samples were well correlated (R = 0.97) with the tocopherol contents. The argan oil samples obtained from roasted seeds presented higher stability (26-38 h) than the oils from unroasted seeds (16-32 h).

6 pages, 1 figure, 3 tables.-- Printed version published Nov 2007., Molecular distillation, or short-path distillation (SPD), is particularly appropriate for processing of low-volatility compounds, which are easily altered at high temperature. Olea europaea L. leaves constitute an olive tree by-product very interesting for their natural antioxidants content. In this research, molecular distillation technology has been applied to obtain high-value-added compounds by the SPD fractionation of an olive tree leaf extract. The process consists of two stages: (a) ethanolic extraction of the olive leaves, followed by incorporation of the extract into glycerine and (b) molecular distillation of the glycerine enriched in olive leaf extract compounds (terpenic and phenolic compounds). Four molecular distillation tests under different conditions were carried out. Results showed that 80.9% 3,4-dihydroxy-phenylethanol (hydroxytyrosol) was recovered from the glycerine admixture under a pressure of 1.50-2.00 mbar, a temperature of 190°C and a feed rate of 15 mL/min., This work was supported by the MCYT (AGL 2003-02795).

A study was carried out to determine the changes in phenolic composition induced by tuberculosis infection in olive trees. Four ethanolic extracts were compared: olive leaf from shoots affected by Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. Savastanoi, nodules induced by this bacteria, leaf from healthy (asymptomatic) shoots, and shoots. Among the differences found, the presence of a phenolic compound in nodules was significant in much larger quantities than in leaf or shoots. Mass spectrometric analysis showed this compound to be verbascoside. The enhancement of its biosynthesis could be related to the defense mechanisms of the tree in the nodules induced by P. savastanoi and suggests the possibility of exploration of natural and biotechnological sources of this compound.

Research into finding new uses for olive products, particularly by-products of olive oil production, is of great relevance not only to the economy, but also to the environment, in the towns where olives are grown. A large number of research articles has been published dealing with the chemical composition of olives and olive oil; however, only a few studies have centered on isolating and identifying compounds in the olive leaf. In this article an overview of the present body of knowledge on the chemical composition of the olive leaf will be presented. Also to be discussed is the use of solid residue, namely, the olive leaf and the olive stone. Both of these types of residue result from olive oil and table olive production, and can be used as a renewable energy source, as well as to obtain high added-value compounds. The latter, bioactive compounds are directed towards the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and natural food supplements markets, all of which are currently highly receptive to products of natural origin.La investigación de nuevos aprovechamientos del olivar y en particular de lo subproductos del proceso de producción del aceite, tiene gran relevancia tanto en la economía como en el medio ambiente de los pueblos donde se desarrolla este cultivo. Son numerosos los trabajos publicados sobre la composición química de la aceituna y el aceite de oliva, en cambio sólo existen algunos estudios sobre el aislamiento e identificación de los compuestos de la hoja de olivo, en esta contribución se revisan los conocimientos sobre la composición química de la hoja de olivo, así como, las utilizaciones de los residuos sólidos -hoja de olivo y hueso de aceituna- que se originan en la producción del aceite de oliva y de aceitunas de mesa, como energía renovable y para la obtención de compuestos de alto valor añadido. Estos últimos, compuestos bioactivos dirigidos a los mercados de los aditivos alimentarios naturales, farmacéutico y cosmético, todos ellos muy receptivos en la actualidad a los productos de origen natural.

3 páginas, 3 figuras, 1 tabla., [ES] Se describe un método analítico, sencillo y rápido, para la cuantificación de escualeno en aceites comestibles. El método consiste en realizar primero una metilación alcalina en frío de la muestra grasa disuelta en hexano y, posterior análisis de la disolución de hexano por cromatografía gaseosa usando patrón interno. Se presentan una recta de calibrado con patrones cromatográficos puros, así como, los coeficientes de variación de muestras de aceites con alto, medio y bajo contenido en escualeno., [EN] A simple and rapid analytical method for the quantification of squalene in vegetable oils is described. The method consists of a cold alkaline methylation of the oil sample diluted with hexane followed by quantitation by gas chromatography with internal standard. A calibration curve obtained using different standard solutions, and coefficients of variation for three different samples with high, medium and low content of squalene, are reported.

The principal components of the hexane extract from olive leaves are analysed, following an analytical procedure based on the extraction with hexane and the later separation of groups of compounds, according to their polarity, by means of column and thin-layer chromatographies. The following components are separated and identified: hydrocarbons, ester waxes, triglycerides, tocopherols, esterols, lineal and terpenic alcohols and terpenic dialcohols. The olive leaves from five different varieties were analyzed: Picual, Arbequina, Hojiblanca, Empeltre and Cornicabra; the concentration of some compounds ranged between: 2.057-3.400 ppm saturated hydrocarbons; 38-152 ppm squalene; 915-1.874 ppm ester waxes; 28-100 ppm β-carotene; 832-1.396 ppm triglycerides; 41-125 ppm α-tocopherol; 614-2.500 ppm β-sitosterol; 95-311 ppm alcohols and 342-837 ppm terpenic dialcohols. Se analizan los principales componentes del extracto de hexano de hojas de olivo, siguiendo un esquema analítico basado en la extracción con hexano y posterior separación de grupos de compuestos, según su polaridad, mediante cromatografía en columna y en capa fina. Se separan e identifican los siguientes componentes: hidrocarburos, ceras ésteres, triglicéridos, tocoferoles, esteroles, alcoholes lineales y terpénicos y dialcoholes terpénicos. Se han estudiado las hojas de olivo de cinco variedades: Picual, Arbequina Hojiblanca, Empeltre y Cornicabra, los rangos del contenido, en ppm, de algunos compuestos resultaron: hidrocarburos saturados, 2.057-3.400; escualeno, 38-152; ceras ésteres, 915-1874; β -caroteno, 28-100; triglicéridos, 832-1.396; α -tocoferol, 41-125; β-sitosterol, 714-2.500 alcoholes totales 95-311 y dialcoholes terpénicos, 342-837.

The terpenic acids, mainly the oleanolic acid, are used for the pharmaceutical industry, among other, for its antitumoral, anti-inflammatory and germicide activities. A process of obtainment of oleanolic acid from olive leaves is described. Solid/liquid extraction with ethanol, treatment of the extract and concentration under defined conditions, being possible to obtain in a single extraction stage a yield of 90 % of the leaf content (2-3 %, referred to the leaf weight) and with richness in excess of 95 %. The raw material is a by-product, coming from that of pruning yearly of the olive grove and of the cleaning of the olives. A method is described for the quantification of the terpenic acids from olive leaf of the alcoholic extract, by preparative thin layer chromatography fractionation and gas liquid chromatography quantification with betulinic acid standard.

We aimed to assess the effects of minor constituents (MC) from virgin olive oil upon the plasma lipid profile of experimental animals. Therefore, 32 Wistar rats were fed for 6 weeks with one of four different diets with a similar fatty acid composition but different MC: high-oleic sunflower oil (HOSO), virgin olive oil (VOO), 400%-MC enriched olive oil (EOO) and MC poor (impoverished) olive oil (IOO). At the end of the week 6 of dietary treatment, blood samples were obtained for analysis of lipid composition. A statistically significant influence was observed upon both total HDL (1.593+/-0.4, 1.204+/-0.212, 0.991+/-0.244 and 0.827+/-0.279 mmol/L for EOO, HOSO, VOO and IOO, respectively, Kruskal-Wallis test, P0.05) and HDL(2)cholesterol levels (1.16+/-0.26, 0.576+/-0.191, 0.585+/-0.216 and 0.583+/-0.207 mmol/L for EOO, HOSO, VOO and IOO, respectively, Kruskal-Wallis test, P0.05). No statistically significant effect was observed upon LDL-cholesterol or triglycerides. Thus, MC supplementation has beneficial effects on HDL concentrations in Wistar rats.