Olea europaea is an evergreen tree that produces oblong, silvery
green leaves that are used to produce liquid extracts. The leaf is also
dried and ground into a fine powder for use in making soap and other
skin care products. Olive leaf powder is also taken as a dietary
supplement in capsule form, or is added to foods as a seasoning.
Olive leaf and fruit (olives) are substantially high in polyphenolic
antioxidants, compounds that prevent the formation of free radicals that cause
damaging chain reactions in cells. According to researchers at Southern Cross
University of Australia, olive leaf has the highest Oxygen Radical Absorbance
Capacity (ORAC), a measurement of antioxidant value, out of more than 50 other
botanicals tested.†
† Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine:
Antioxidant
capacity of 55 [herbs] ...: a comparison using a sequential three-solvent extraction
process. K Wojcikowski, et al.