A recent study in the journal Antioxidants investigated the therapeutic potential of ethanolic extracts from olive leaves sourced from Spain and Greece. The results indicate that both extracts, especially the one from Greece, exhibit high antioxidant capacity and significant antimicrobial and anticancer properties, suggesting potential applications in healthcare as antimicrobial agents and treatments for melanoma . Study: Antioxidant Extracts from Greek and Spanish Olive Leaves: Antimicrobial, Anticancer and Antiangiogenic Effects .
Image Credit: Artmim / Shutterstock In previous studies, phytochemicals from medicinal plants have shown promise in developing new medicines, particularly chemotherapeutics for various cancers, including melanoma, which is known for its aggressiveness and metastasis. However, while extensive research has established the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of olive leaf extracts and their potential in treating several cancers, there is a gap in understanding the phytochemical profiles of olive leaves from different regions and their specific anti-melanoma effects, especially when applied topically. This study addressed existing research gaps by characterizing the ethanolic extracts of olive leaves from Spain and Greece, focusing on their chemical, micronutrient, and inorganic contents, and assessing their therapeutic potential as antimicrobial, anti-melanoma, and angiogenesis-modulating agents.
Researchers harvested olive leaves from Seville, .
