Hydroxytyrosol is a phenolic compound released from the
hydrolysis of oleuropein and is present in olive oil, leaf and
fruit. Recently, studies on hydroxytyrosol have revealed
its strong antioxidant and antiinflamatory effects. In vitro
studies conducted in various cancer cell lines and in vivo
assays carried out on animals reported strong evidences for
its antiinflamatory, antiproliferative and proapoptotic influences.
In addition, in cancer it is believed to have inhibitory
effects during angiogenesis. Its modulatory role on bone
formation and prevention of bone loss has been the attraction
of some studies. If the molecular mechanisms and cellular
pathways of hydroxytyrosol are elucidated, it will be
possible to plan new strategies targeting various disease involved
with cancer, inflammatory and cardio-vascular pathologies.
In this review, various in vitro and in vivo studies
investigating the antioxidant, anticancer, antiinflamatory
role of hydroxytyrosol and its inhibitory effects in osteoporosis
are discussed.
Keywords: Antiinflamatory; anticancer; antioxidant; antiproliferative; hydroxytyrosol; proapoptotic
