Dr. Johnston looks at a new laboratory study in which human breast cancer cells were exposed to oleuropein, an olive leaf compound, for 72 hours. At the highest concentrations, viable cells fell by nearly 40% with about 23% cytotoxicity and more oxidative stress. He notes it was lab research, not a clinical trial.
This study right here, published just last week, found that a compound from olive leaves reduced the number of living breast cancer cells by nearly 40% in just 72 hours at the higher concentrations in the study. And the history behind those leaves is almost as fascinating as this cancer research.
Remember Noah's ark? After the flood, Noah sent out a dove to look for dry land to give them hope. And soon the dove returned with an olive stem in its beak. That was thousands of years ago, and still today the olive branch is a symbol of hope and peace. Extending an olive branch is making peace with someone you've been in conflict with. Reconciliation is a beautiful thing.
Another interesting thing about olive trees is they can live hundreds to thousands of years. Well, now scientists are interested in olive leaves because of a compound found in them called oleuropein, because of their anti-cancer properties in preclinical studies.
Now, let's look at this brand new cancer research. Researchers exposed human breast cancer cells to this olive leaf compound, oleuropein, for 72 hours. At the highest concentrations tested, it reduced viable breast cancer cells by nearly 40% and produced approximately 23% cytotoxicity. In laboratory experiments, cytotoxicity is a measurement of cell damage that likely leads to cell death.
Anyway, they also found evidence of increased oxidative stress inside the cells. That's particularly interesting because oleuropein is generally considered an antioxidant, but at certain concentrations it appears capable of increasing oxidative stress inside the cancer cells, contributing to their destruction.
Now, this was laboratory research, not a clinical trial, but it adds another intriguing piece to the growing research on olive leaf compounds like oleuropein and cancer.
Here's the research. You decide.
Educational research summary, not medical advice. Talk with your oncologist and pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any treatment or supplement.