The olive tree is an evergreen in the Oleaceae family, a large group
of flowering trees and shrubs that includes forsythia and lilac.
Although this species is native to the warm Mediterranean climates of
Greece, Italy and Spain, it is now naturalized in the Middle East,
Bermuda, France, South Australia and some parts of California.
The antioxidant value of olive oil, which is extracted from the fruit of the
tree, is well established. Olive leaf also has antioxidant activity. In fact,
the herb is known to contain more than 20 phenolic antioxidant compounds.
