Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Olive Oil Polyphenols—The Role of Oleacein and Its Metabolites

The anti-inflammatory potential of oleacein, the main polyphenolic compound found in olive oil, and its main metabolites were characterized by their effects on RAW 264.7 macrophages challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and by their ability to inhibit enzymes of the arachidonic acid metabolism with a key role in the synthesis of pro-inflammatory lipid mediators. Oleacein at 12.5 µM significantly decreased the amount of L-citrulline and ^●NO generated by LPS-stimulated macrophages. Hydroxytyrosol, hydroxytyrosol acetate and hydroxytyrosol acetate sulfate were also able to reduce the cellular amount of ^●NO, although to a lesser extent. In contrast, hydroxytyrosol glucuronide and sulfate did not show detectable effects. Oleacein was also able to inhibit the coupled PLA₂ + 5-LOX enzyme system (IC₅₀ = 16.11 µM), as well as the 5-LOX enzyme (IC₅₀ = 45.02 µM). Although with lower activity, both hydroxytyrosol and hydroxytyrosol acetate were also capable of inhibiting these enzymes at a concentration of 100 µM. None of the other tested metabolites showed a capacity to inhibit these enzymes. In contrast, all compounds, including glucuronides and sulfate metabolites, showed a remarkable capacity to inhibit both cyclooxygenase isoforms, COX-1 and COX-2, with IC₅₀ values lower than 3 µM. Therefore, oleacein and its metabolites have the ability to modulate ^●NO- and arachidonic acid-dependent inflammatory cascades, contributing to the anti-inflammatory activity associated with olive oil polyphenols.