Influence of olive oil phenolic compounds on health

Blagotvorni učinci maslinovog ulja na zdravlje ljudi pripisuju se njegovom sadržaju širokog spektra biološki aktivnih spojeva među kojima su najznačajniji fenoli. Fenoli svojstveni maslinovom ulju su oleuropein, olekantal, hidroksitirosol i tirosol. Ovi spojevi imaju značajno antioksidacijsko djelovanje i štite organizam od različitih bolesti koje su posljedica štetnog djelovanja slobodnih radikala. Osim toga fenoli imaju i antiaterogeno, antiupalno, antialergijsko i antikancerogeno djelovanje.The benefficial effects of olive oil on human health are attributed to the fact that it contains a wide range of biologically active compounds, out of which phenols are the most important ones. Phenolic compound characteristic for olive oil are oleuropein, olekantal, hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol. These compounds have significant antioxidant activity and thus protect the body from various diseases that are result of the harmful effects of free radicals. In addition, phenols have anti-atherogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and anti-cancer effects