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What is it?

Olive (Olea europaea) is a tree with edible fruit, leaves, and seeds. The fruit and leaves are sometimes used as medicine.

Olive leaf might lower blood pressure. Olive fruit might also be able to kill microbes, such as bacteria and fungus.

People use olive for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support its uses.

Don’t confuse olive with olive oil, the oil from olive fruit. These are not the same.

How effective is it?

There is interest in using olive for a number of purposes, but there isn’t enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

Is it safe?

When taken by mouth: Olive fruits are commonly consumed as food. But there isn’t enough reliable information to know if it is safe to use the fruit in larger amounts as medicine. Olive leaf extract is possibly safe when used appropriately.

Special precautions & warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Olive fruits are commonly consumed as food. There isn’t enough reliable information to know if olive is safe to use as medicine when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.

Are there interactions with medications?

It is not known if this product interacts with any medicines.

Before taking this product, talk with your health professional if you take any medications.

Are there interactions with herbs and supplements?

There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.

Are there interactions with foods?

There are no known interactions with foods.

How is it typically used?

Olive fruit is commonly consumed in foods. As medicine, olive leaf extracts and olive fruit extracts have been used. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what type of product and dose might be best for a specific condition.

Other names

Common Olive, Feuille d’Olivier, Green Olive, Jaitun, Manzanilla Olive Fruit, Oleae Folium, Olive Fruit, Olive Fruit Pulp, Olive Leaf, Olive Pulp, Olives, Olivo, Pulpe d’Olive.

Methodology

To learn more about how this article was written, please see the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database methodology.

References

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  2. de la Torre R, Carbó M, Pujadas M, et al. Pharmacokinetics of maslinic and oleanolic acids from olive oil – Effects on endothelial function in healthy adults. A randomized, controlled, dose-response study. Food Chem. 2020;322:126676. View abstract.
  3. Somerville V, Moore R, Braakhuis A. The effect of olive leaf extract on upper respiratory illness in high school athletes: A randomised control trial. Nutrients. 2019;11. pii: E358. View abstract.
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  6. Filip R, Possemiers S, Heyerick A, Pinheiro I, Raszewski G, Davicco MJ, Coxam V. Twelve-month consumption of a polyphenol extract from olive (Olea europaea) in a double blind, randomized trial increases serum total osteocalcin levels and improves serum lipid profiles in postmenopausal women with osteopenia. J Nutr Health Aging. 2015 Jan;19:77-86. View abstract.
  7. de Bock M, Thorstensen EB, Derraik JG, Henderson HV, Hofman PL, Cutfield WS. Human absorption and metabolism of oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol ingested as olive (Olea europaea L.) leaf extract. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2013 Nov;57:2079-85. View abstract.
  8. de Bock M, Derraik JG, Brennan CM, Biggs JB, Morgan PE, Hodgkinson SC, Hofman PL, Cutfield WS. Olive (Olea europaea L.) leaf polyphenols improve insulin sensitivity in middle-aged overweight men: a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. PLoS One. 2013;8:e57622. View abstract.
  9. Lee-Huang, S., Zhang, L., Huang, P. L., Chang, Y. T., and Huang, P. L. Anti-HIV activity of olive leaf extract (OLE) and modulation of host cell gene expression by HIV-1 infection and OLE treatment. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 8-8-2003;307:1029-1037. View abstract.
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  19. Secondary Direct Food Additives Permitted in Food for Human Consumption. Safe use of ozone when used as a gas or dissolved in water as an antimicrobial agent on food, including meat and poultry. Federal Register 66 http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/Dockets/98fr/062601a.htm (Accessed 26 June 2001).
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  34. Cherif S, Rahal N, Haouala M, et al. [A clinical trial of a titrated Olea extract in the treatment of essential arterial hypertension]. J Pharm Belg 1996;51:69-71. View abstract.
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Last reviewed –
08/28/2022
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