Sep 5, 2005

Oleocanthal Structure

Posted in Chemistry at 2:36 pm by David Bradley -- Click to comment

A natural product from extra virgin olive oil works as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, with effects similar to ibuprofen according to researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center and collaborators at the University of Pennsylvania, The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, and Firmenich, Inc.
Oleocanthal structure
The compound “oleocanthal” inhibits the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes.

The finding is significant because inflammation increasingly is believed to play a key role in a variety of chronic diseases. “Some of the health�related effects of the Mediterranean diet may be due to the natural anti-COX activity of oleocanthal from premium olive oils,” observes Monell biologist Gary Beauchamp.

The findings are described in the September 1 issue of Nature.

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