Two Olea europea extracts reduce deleterious effects induced by lead exposure in a model of neurotoxicity: involvement of the endoplasmic reticulum

Prolonged exposure to lead has been recognized as harmful to human health as it may cause neurotoxic effects including mitochondrial damage, apoptosis, excitotoxicity, and myelin alterations, among others. Numerous data have shown that consuming olive oil and its valuable components could reduce neurotoxicity and neurodegeneration. Olive oil is traditionally obtained from olive trees; this plant ( Olea europea L.) is an evergreen fruit tree belonging to the Oleaceae family and the genus Olea . In this manuscript two extracts have been used and compared: the extract from the leaves of Olea europea L, Cultivar Coratina (OE), and the extract derived from OE but with a further sonication process (s-OE). Therefore, the objectives of this experimental work were as follows: 1) To generate an innovative extract; 2) To test both extracts on a model of neurotoxicity (human neurons) induced following lead exposure; 3) To study the mechanisms behind lead-induced neurotoxicity. The results showed that the mechanism involved in the neurotoxicity of lead included dysfunction of the cellular endoplasmic reticulum, which suffered oxidative damage. Moreover, in all experiments, s-OE was 1) more effective than OE, having greater and better effects against lead-induced damage; 2) dissolved in a smaller amount of EtOH which improved its sustainability.