Supplementation of oils with oleanolic acid from the olive leaf (olea europaea)

A method was studied for utilization of olive leaf, which is a byproduct of olive tree pruning and olive oil production. Our strategy involves two stages. The first is a simple procedure for isolating oleanolic acid, a compound with known biological activity. The second stage involves supplementation of different types of oil with this triterpenic acid. Two protocols were used for incorporating this acid into oils, either as a solid or as a solution, at concentrations from 200 to 1000 ppm. Oleanolic acid in the prepared oils was quantified by gas liquid chromatography. At the concentrations analyzed, the oleanolic acid content measured in all oil samples was equal to the amount added (p <0.05). No significant difference was observed (p <0.05) between the two supplementation procedures in any of the oils.