A Novel Process for Oleacein Production from Olive Leaves Using Freeze Drying Methodology
The abundant yet underutilized olive leaves, a renewable by-product of olive cultivation, offer untapped potential for producing high-value bioactive compounds, notably oleacein. Existing extraction methods are often inefficient, yielding low quantities of oleacein due to enzymatic degradation of it...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Foods |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/2/313 |
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| author | Christina Koutra Efi Routsi Panagiotis Stathopoulos Eleftherios Kalpoutzakis Marina Humbert Olivier Maubert Alexios-Leandros Skaltsounis |
| author_facet | Christina Koutra Efi Routsi Panagiotis Stathopoulos Eleftherios Kalpoutzakis Marina Humbert Olivier Maubert Alexios-Leandros Skaltsounis |
| author_sort | Christina Koutra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The abundant yet underutilized olive leaves, a renewable by-product of olive cultivation, offer untapped potential for producing high-value bioactive compounds, notably oleacein. Existing extraction methods are often inefficient, yielding low quantities of oleacein due to enzymatic degradation of its precursor, oleuropein, during conventional processing and storage. This study aimed to overcome these limitations by exploring a novel methodology based on freeze-drying, to facilitate the in situ enzymatic biotransformation of oleuropein into oleacein directly within the plant matrix. Olive leaves were subjected to three drying methods—ambient air drying, microwave drying, and freeze-drying—and their phenolic profiles were analyzed. The findings demonstrated that freeze drying uniquely promotes the selective activation of β-glucosidase and esterase enzymes while simultaneously inhibiting oxidative enzymes, such as polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase, resulting in significantly enriched oleacein content. This process eliminates the need for extensive post-extraction transformations, providing a cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable approach to oleacein production. The proposed methodology aligns with circular economy principles and holds substantial potential for applications in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and functional food industries. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8632e9b619934685922623d543910069 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj-art-8632e9b619934685922623d5439100692025-01-24T13:33:15ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-01-0114231310.3390/foods14020313A Novel Process for Oleacein Production from Olive Leaves Using Freeze Drying MethodologyChristina Koutra0Efi Routsi1Panagiotis Stathopoulos2Eleftherios Kalpoutzakis3Marina Humbert4Olivier Maubert5Alexios-Leandros Skaltsounis6Division of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, GreeceDivision of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, GreeceDivision of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, GreeceDivision of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, GreeceROBERTET SA, 37 Avenue Sidi Brahim, 06130 Grasse, FranceROBERTET SA, 37 Avenue Sidi Brahim, 06130 Grasse, FranceDivision of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, GreeceThe abundant yet underutilized olive leaves, a renewable by-product of olive cultivation, offer untapped potential for producing high-value bioactive compounds, notably oleacein. Existing extraction methods are often inefficient, yielding low quantities of oleacein due to enzymatic degradation of its precursor, oleuropein, during conventional processing and storage. This study aimed to overcome these limitations by exploring a novel methodology based on freeze-drying, to facilitate the in situ enzymatic biotransformation of oleuropein into oleacein directly within the plant matrix. Olive leaves were subjected to three drying methods—ambient air drying, microwave drying, and freeze-drying—and their phenolic profiles were analyzed. The findings demonstrated that freeze drying uniquely promotes the selective activation of β-glucosidase and esterase enzymes while simultaneously inhibiting oxidative enzymes, such as polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase, resulting in significantly enriched oleacein content. This process eliminates the need for extensive post-extraction transformations, providing a cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable approach to oleacein production. The proposed methodology aligns with circular economy principles and holds substantial potential for applications in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and functional food industries.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/2/313<i>Olea europaea</i>drying methodsolive tree by-productsbioactive compoundsenzymatic biotransformation |
| spellingShingle | Christina Koutra Efi Routsi Panagiotis Stathopoulos Eleftherios Kalpoutzakis Marina Humbert Olivier Maubert Alexios-Leandros Skaltsounis A Novel Process for Oleacein Production from Olive Leaves Using Freeze Drying Methodology Foods <i>Olea europaea</i> drying methods olive tree by-products bioactive compounds enzymatic biotransformation |
| title | A Novel Process for Oleacein Production from Olive Leaves Using Freeze Drying Methodology |
| title_full | A Novel Process for Oleacein Production from Olive Leaves Using Freeze Drying Methodology |
| title_fullStr | A Novel Process for Oleacein Production from Olive Leaves Using Freeze Drying Methodology |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Novel Process for Oleacein Production from Olive Leaves Using Freeze Drying Methodology |
| title_short | A Novel Process for Oleacein Production from Olive Leaves Using Freeze Drying Methodology |
| title_sort | novel process for oleacein production from olive leaves using freeze drying methodology |
| topic | <i>Olea europaea</i> drying methods olive tree by-products bioactive compounds enzymatic biotransformation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/2/313 |
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