Hydroxytyrosol-rich composition from olive vegetation water and method of use thereof

Abstract

The invention provides olive-derived hydroxytyrosol. According to one aspect of the invention, vegetation water is collected from olives. Acid is added to stabilize the vegetation water and prevent fermentation. The mixture is incubated to allow oleuropein to convert to hydroxytyrosol, and then fractionated to separate hydroxytyrosol from other components. The hydroxytyrosol is useful as a therapeutic and anti-oxidant for a variety of health purposes, including for the treatment of skin damage. In addition, the hydroxytyrosol is useful as a natural anti-bacterial, anti-viral and fungicidal product for agricultural and pest control applications.

1 . A method for protecting skin against adverse effects of exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) comprising orally administering to a subject in need of such protection a pharmaceutically effective amount of a treatment agent having a weight ratio of hydroxytyrosol to oleuropein of between about 1:1 and about 200:1. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said weight ratio is between about 4:1 and about 100:1. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said weight ratio is between about 10:1 and about 50:1. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said agent further comprises a sunscreen for topical applications. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said subject is a human. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said agent is prepared by a process comprising the steps of:
 (a) producing vegetation water from olives;   (b) adding acid to the vegetation water in an amount effective to produce a pH between about 1 and about 5;   (c) incubating the acidified vegetation water until at least 75% of oleuropein originally present in the vegetation water has been converted to hydroxytyrosol.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said agent is dried to provide a powder extract. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said agent is in the form of a tablet, capsule, or pill. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said agent is in the form of a liquid. 
     
     
         10 . A method for protecting skin against adverse effects of exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR), comprising orally administering to a subject in need of such protection a pharmaceutically effective amount of substantially purified hydroxytyrosol or a substantially purified mixture of hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein. 
     
     
         11 . An oral composition comprising olive polyphenols in an amount effective to scavenge free radicals wherein said olive polyphenols comprise a weight ratio of hydroxytyrosol to oleuropein of between about 1:1 and about 200:1. 
     
     
         12 . The oral composition of  claim 11 , wherein said weight ratio is between about 4:1 and about 100:1. 
     
     
         13 . The oral composition of  claim 12 , wherein said weight ratio is between about 10:1 and about 50:1.