Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Synonyms —
Olea pallida
Salisb.
Family —
Oleaceae
Common Names —
Olive tree, olea
Description —
The olive tree yields evergreen leaves that are employed for the treatment of
hypertension. The plant is native to the Mediterranean region, where it is cultivated both for its valu-
able oil and for the leaves. It produces edible blue-black fruit (2-3 cm length) that occurs in drupes.
The olive tree grows to a great age but seldom exceeds 12 m in height. The leaves are leathery with
scale-like hairs on the underside.
838
Ethnomedicinal Uses —
The leaves and bark extracts have been used as a remedy for scrofula
and intermittent fever, and a weak decoction of the stem is used as a tonic.
79
The fixed oil from the
fruits is employed in southern Africa as an astringent for the treatment of diarrhea. Olive oil is a
valuable edible oil used as an emollient and as a dietary supplement.
Constituents —
The leaf is rich in tannins. A bitter water-soluble glucoside called oleorepein
has been shown to be present in the bark, leaves, and fruits.
839
The seed is the source of the commer-
cially important olive oil, which consists of glycerides of oleic acid (70-80%), with the glycerides
of palmitic, stearic, and linoleic acids minor components.
Pharmacological Studies —
The aqueous extract of the olive leaves has been shown to possess
significant hypotensive activity in rats.
840
The antihypertensive activity of olive leaves may be due
to the presence of oleuropein.
511
In a work credited to Petkow and Manolow, the drug was found
to achieve extended and always reproducible reductions in blood pressure, as well as spasmolytic
actions on the smooth musculature.
511
The effects were observed to be less marked in rats than in
cats. Extracts of the leaves also exhibited direct relaxant action on smooth muscles, dilated the
bronchi, and improved blood circulation.
841
Clinical Application —
Weiss
511
recommended olive leaves for labile and medium-severe
hypertension. Proprietary preparations are available containing olive leaves, for example, Osvysat
(Burger), or in combination with the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide and potassium chloride (Olivyysat
compound). A commercial product, Hyperidyst (Vogel and Wber), exists that contains olive leaves,
raulwolfia, arnica root, and mistletoe. A daily dose of 100 ml of an infusion of the leaves for 20 to 25
days has been shown to increase the daily urine output by 10% to 15%, with a concomitant decrease
in blood uric acid levels and an increase in the urinary uric acid content, without any significant
effect on the blood sodium and chloride levels.
842,843
PARKIA BIGLOBOSA
Botanical Name —
Parkia biglobosa
(Jacq.) G.Don
