Advanced Research in Olive Oil: Health Benefits and Biological Functions

Dear Colleagues,

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), a major source of lipids in Mediterranean countries, has been involved in many cardioprotective and other beneficial effects, but the molecular mechanisms underlying its beneficial effects are not fully understood. EVOO is rich on monounsaturated fatty acids (composed by around 70–80% of oleic acid) and around 230 minor compounds, with a high percentage of biologically active minor components (i.e., phenolic compounds (PCs)). Hydroxytyrosol, the main PC found circulating after EVOO intake, is highly bioavailable and extensively metabolized into phase I and phase II metabolites. The potential biological activity of other EVOO PCs—tyrosol, oleuropein, oleocanthal, oleacein and many others—remains poorly described.

Most of the beneficial effects of EVOO and its components are mediated by its PCs and vitamin E antioxidant activity. However, they also modulate mammalian gene expression at the genetic and epigenetic levels and modulate different signaling pathways. This and other molecular mechanisms might explain the classical and emerging novel biological functions attributed to EVOO’s minor compounds.

This Special Issue of Foods aims to publish original research papers and reviews analyzing the relationship between EVOO or its minor components and effects on health. Evaluation of genetic and epigenetic modulation, focusing on nutrigenomic and nutriepigenetics, as well as molecular mechanism studies are welcome. Indeed, studies in vitro or in vivo or human trials focusing on evaluating the mechanisms of action, applying many different cutting-edge technologies such as genomics, metabolomics, proteomics or bioinformatics to identify the beneficial mechanisms behind olive oil or its minor components are encouraged. Moreover, emerging novel EVOO elaboration techniques, as well as food/nutraceutical preparations associated with potential novel biological functions such as the antiviral (e.g., SARS-CoV-2), aging or autoimmune effects of EVOO and its minor phenolic compounds as well as novel forms of their delivery (e.g., in extracellular vesicles) are welcome.

Dr. María del Carmen López de las Hazas
Dr. Alberto Dávalos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• EVOO
• Oleic acid
• Olive oil phenolic compounds
• Nutrigenomics
• Epigenetic
• Biological effects
• Computational biology
• Mechanism of action
• Antiviral effects
• Delivery of phenolic compounds
• Cell signaling