Olive Leaf Extract Benefits: 1,500x More Antioxidants Than Goji

Their most touted advantage is antioxidants, but those berries can’t hold a candle to this leaf.

What is olive leaf good for?

You can eat olive leaves. They’re not poisonous or toxic to humans, cats, or dogs. Hard and callous with a bitter taste, they’re not something one would want to put in a salad, which is the reason why they haven’t been used as food. Their primary purpose historically was decorative; making wreaths and garlands.

In Mediterranean folk medicine they were used for gout. In Tunisia, for inflammation and bacterial infections. In Italy, as a fever reducer. In Morocco, decoctions have been used for high blood pressure and diabetes. Brazilians have done the same. (2)

You may want to chalk up these and other traditional uses of olive leaf as being no different than any other unproven herbal remedy.

It’s true those things are unproven. Sufficient human clinical trials have not been done to prove any benefit conclusively. Therefore, the leaves and extracts made from them should not be used for any disease.

That said, there is some exciting preliminary research taking place, which suggests the leaves might be good for more than just decorative wreaths and garlands. Here’s a review of the scientific findings so far.

Health Benefits

1. Most potent antioxidant source

There is a stark difference between olive oil and olive leaf extract.

EVOO is virtually 100% fat (lipids). It’s mostly monounsaturated. This is better for cardiovascular health when compared to saturated and trans fats, but it’s not the superfood people perceive it to be.

Refined oils in general contribute to plaque formation and atherosclerosis. To understand why, see Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn’s book Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease. He was the former Director of the Cleveland Clinic’s Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Reversal Program.

The antioxidant activity in olives and oils made from them come from the polyphenols, not the fat.

The purified fats, like EVOO, have almost no polyphenols and after digestion, the fat acts as a pro-oxidant (causing oxidative stress).

Whole olives contain more polyphenols versus the oil, yet it’s still a trivial amount when compared to the leaf.

The leaf is virtually fat-free and it’s a highly concentrated source of polyphenols.

While their concentrations differ immensely, the composition of the leaf, fruit, and oil all contain these compounds:

• oleuropein
• hydroxytyrosol
• luteolin
• apigenin
• rutin
• catechin
• caffeic acid
• elenolic acid

Each has antioxidant activity. Some have minimal amounts but are believed to influence biological functions in different ways. (3)

The most accurate method for measuring antioxidant activity in the lab is ORAC values testing. The higher, the better.

Here are the ORAC values for 100g measurements of each:

• black olives = 350
• extra virgin olive oil = 372
• green olives = 1,010
• Kalamata olives = 3,130
• olive leaf extract (Olea25) = 6,857,600

Olive leaf extract has up to 18,000x more antioxidants than extra virgin oil.

That particular reading is for Certified Nutraceuticals Olea 25, which contains a minimum of 25% hydroxytyrosol. The testing for it was done by the independent third-party Brunswick Laboratories. They are the leader in ORAC testing. (4)

The oleuropein content is talked about most, but it’s not the best antioxidant in the plant.

Isolated hydroxytyrosol is believed to be the most powerful antioxidant in the world. It demonstrates thousands of times more free radical scavenging ability in lab tests than ascorbic acid (vitamin C), CoQ10, and vitamin E. Even at a 25% concentration, it beats pure astaxanthin and dragon’s blood by two-fold according to ORAC values.

Examine olive leaf extract supplement labels and you will see that most do not have a “super strength” of hydroxytyrosol. Typically it’s 8-20%. Many don’t disclose the amount.

For capsules containing the Olea 25 brand of extract, on Amazon you can buy Hydroxytyrosol Extreme by ProHealth.

2. May lower blood pressure

This suspected benefit has been the focus of 3 double-blinded human clinical trials.

There was also a Swiss cohort study done that confirmed the effect in 40 monozygotic twins; one twin used it while the other didn’t. This is fascinating, considering that their DNA is the same and therefore, genetic drivers for blood pressure were not a factor. (5)

The most recent clinical trial involved 37 overweight men and women with hypertension. The group taking a twice-daily 500 mg dose of olive leaf extract experienced the same decrease in blood pressure as the group on 25 mg of Captopril, which is a prescription ACE inhibitor. (6)

To be conservative, we will ignore that trial since the supplement also contained 100 mg of green coffee extract and 150 mg of beet powder. It’s unknown as to what effect each ingredient had.

A couple years prior, a much larger trial was done that is directly relevant.

• 148 participants (126 women and 22 men)
• Majority were overweight per BMI
• Most were non-smokers and didn’t drink alcohol
• All had high blood pressure
• They were split into two groups; leaf extract and Captopril
• Prep period of 4 weeks was followed by 8 weeks of treatment

Here were the results…

The olive leaf extract dosage for blood pressure of 500mg, taken twice daily, was clinically shown to lower systolic and diastolic in women and men with stage-1 hypertension. The lowering effect was similar to Captopril dosages of 12.5 to 25 mg twice daily.

49.4% of participants using olive leaf extract reported side effects, which was comparable to the 50.6% of those using Captopril.

The majority (99.8%) of the reactions were “tolerably mild” and comparable among both treatments. Coughing and vertigo were most common side effects, followed less frequently by muscle ache, headache, and fatigue. Only one serious side effect was reported (anemia) and based on that patient’s medical history, it was believed to be unrelated to the leaf. (7)

3. Some antiviral activity

What HSV-1 looks like. By Thomas Splettstoesser via Wikipedia [CC BY-SA 4.0]

HSV-1 is the most common cause of blisters and ulcers around the lips and mouth. HSV-2 is the cause of genital herpes. This purported remedy has not been scientifically or clinically evaluated for HSV-1 or HSV-2. It is unproven.

Shingles, which is caused by the herpes zoster virus, doesn’t have research either.

There is a U.S. patent filing which claims to have tested a dried olive leaf extract on 6 people with oral herpes infections. The dosage was a tincture containing 88 mg of oleuropein per ounce, taken every 6 hours. Oleuropein is a bitter compound found in olives, which is normally removed with lye. After several days, the herpes outbreaks and lesions allegedly resolved, but this is an unverified claim from a non-published study. (8)

It is theoretically possible that olive leaf extract works for herpes based on its antiviral activity seen in the lab:

• “Significant” antiviral activity against respiratory syncytial virus and para-influenza type 3 virus. (9)
• Replication of the HIV-1 virus was suppressed in a dose-dependent manner. Other research suggests this is happening because it binds to an envelope protein known as gp41 on the virus. (10) (11)
• Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) infectivity was reduced by 10-30% in an experiment. (12)

Historically and still today, olive leaves and their decoctions have been used for alleviating symptoms of colds and the flu in some traditional medicine practices throughout the world. Those are both viral infections. The rhinovirus is the most common cause of the common cold and various influenza viruses cause the flu. However, neither of these have been formally evaluated. Not even in lab experiments.

While proponents argue that it helps fight viral infections by boosting immune response and antiviral activity, there is not enough evidence to support it working for any type of viral infection. Although not proven, there is actually compelling clinical data on using garlic for colds and flu as well as elderberry extract.

The anti-viral effects of olive leaf in lab experiments are preliminary and far from proof, but they do suggest potential. A lot more research is needed.

4. Broad antibacterial activity

The most potent antioxidant in olives, hydroxytyrosol, has also demonstrated antibacterial activity.

It was isolated from the leaves and tested on Vibrio, which is a gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria. Several species of Vibrio cause food poisoning, particularly in seafood.

Hydroxytyrosol inhibited growth of the bacteria by increasing the permeability of its membrane. In turn, the hydroxytyrosol interacted with its DNA.

The chart shown here shows how that happened in a clear, dose-dependent manner. (13)

Oleuropein, which is the other bitter compound in the plant that’s most talked about, has demonstrated activity against gram positive bacteria in the lab. (14)

The polysaccharides extracted from the leaves of olives have been found to inhibit growth of Salmonella enterica, a common cause of food poisoning, and Micrococcus luteus. (15)

Is olive leaf extract good for urinary tract infection?

The olive plant has long been used in herbal medicine for urinary tract infections, stomach and intestinal diseases. Clinically, these have never been evaluated.

E. coli is the most frequent cause of UTI cases. Lab experiments using micronized olive leaf extract have shown “especially high susceptibility” against E. coli cultures. After 3 days, the inhibitory effect was even greater than cefixime, which is a prescription antibiotic used for UTI.

In addition to E. coli, which it appears to work best for, olive leaf demonstrates significant inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus (the cause of staph infections) and other dangerous pathogens. (16) (17)

Unfortunately, these and other experiments have only taken place in Petri dishes and similar. It’s unknown whether the leaf extract can inhibit E. coli growth in humans or animals, or help other infections. Despite the testimonials and claims about it being good for UTI, presently there is no clinical data to support them.

5. Kills Candida yeast

When it comes to fungal infections, this is one of the most problematic for humans.

Overgrowth in women causes most yeast infections and the symptoms that result such as vaginal burning, itching, and unusual smells. It can also cause infections throughout the body, particularly those with weakened immune systems due to AIDS and other diseases.

Several research articles report a candida leaf extract dosage for Candida albicans working in lab experiments:

• When a 15% concentration of the extract was incubated with the yeast, virtually all was killed after 24 hours. (18)
• Using well plates and Candida yeast cultures, scientists measured the leaf extract’s minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC). They were 24 µg/ml and 48 µg/ml, respectively. That means at a strength of just 0.0024%, further growth was inhibited/blocked. Doubling the dose to 0.0048% actually killed/reduced Candida growth. (19)
• Elsewhere, a similar MIC for Candida albicans and another less common species, Candida dubliniensis, were reported. (20)

These results are similar to the potential oil of oregano benefits for Candida. However whether it’s as a liquid extract, capsules, or powder, neither olive leaf nor oregano oil have been clinically tested. It’s unknown if it works kills Candida outside the lab in real world situations.

6. Remedy for rosacea

As a home remedy, topical applications of olive leaf extract on the face have been reported by many to reduce redness and irritation.

Some blogs claim this is because it boosts the immune system and helps to detox the body.

If it works, neither of those are the likely reasons.

The exact cause of rosacea is unknown. Some call it acne rosacea or adult acne, but it’s not really pimples. The best evidence to date is that rosacea is caused by elevated levels of stratum corneum tryptic enzymes (SCTE). These cause inflammation and redness in the skin.

According to UC San Diego researchers, the reason antibiotics help is not because of antibacterial effects, but rather because they can inhibit these enzymes. (21)

While not specific to rosacea, the anti-inflammatory effects of olive leaf extract have been well documented in both animal models and human clinical trials.

In dermatology, it has been found to inhibit enzymes in skin cells related to melanoma. The phenolic compound oleuropein suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines. Lastly, the antioxidant effect means fewer reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated, which in and of itself is anti-inflammatory. (22) (23) (24)

Rosacea suffers may benefit from products like DHC olive leaf milk and cream.

7. Cancer research

There are a couple dozen pieces of research, most from just the last decade, which suggest that compounds found in olive leaf might have anti-cancer potential.

There’s even a double-blinded and placebo-controlled human clinical trial on this topic.

It didn’t involve people with cancer. Rather, it looked at how consumption of the extract influenced genes related to glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). That’s one of the most common types of brain cancer.

When the 29 healthy young men consumed a 20 mL daily dosage of olive leaf extract for 8 weeks, it was reported there was a…

“…downregulation of genes important in inflammatory pathways, lipid metabolism and cancer as a result of olive leaf extract consumption.”

That quote comes for the 2016 study, which was conducted at a New Zealand university. (25)

They aren’t the only ones reporting this. Lab research elsewhere using cultured human glioblastoma cells have reported antiproliferative activity, too. (26)

When breast cancer cells were tested in the lab, there was “significant antitumor activity” seen when extract was added. They believe the compounds responsible were oleuropein, along with the flavones luteolin and apigenin. (27)

Cytotoxic potential was also seen in melanoma, liver, and prostate cancer cell lines when tested with wild olive leaves. (28)

The 5th leading cause of cancer deaths, pancreatic, have also been tested in the lab and their survivability was lower relative to untreated cells. (29)

While other cell lines have been tested, many have not. Noticeably absent are lung, cervical, and ovarian cancers.

French and Algerian scientists tested it on mice with human colon cancer xenografts. Basically, those are mice with immune systems designed to not reject the foreign cells (tumors) implanted in them.

You can see how the tumor size was smaller in the mice receiving the leaf extract, when compared to those getting placebo (tap water).

It did this by causing induces caspase-dependent apoptosis. In plain English, apoptosis is the normal process of programmed cell death that cancer cells are notorious for evading. (30)

Their summary stated:

“These results demonstrate that polyphenols from oleaster [wild or Russian olive] leaves might have a strong potential as chemopreventive agent in colorectal cancer.”

They keyword there is might. Please keep in mind that all of this is very preliminary and early research. There’s a big difference between treating cancer cells in a Petri dish directly, versus what happens to the same substance after digestion and in a living body.

Olive leaf extract does not prevent, treat, or cure cancer. Anyone making those claims is grossly misleading the public.

8. Used for dogs and cats

According to piece penned by three veterinarians:

“Olive leaf has been used successfully for treating infections in pets for many years.”

They say that skin and ear infections in both dogs and cats “often show positive responses when treated” and inflammatory conditions like osteoarthritis are also called out. They say it’s “very safe” and the only side effect seen was diarrhea, when too high of a dose is used, and that’s a “rare” occurrence. (31)

While they don’t mention a specific or typical dose, reviews elsewhere have mentioned using 100 mg capsules once daily for dogs under 20 lbs and 250-500 mg daily for larger breeds.

Given the preliminary research suggesting it may have antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal benefits, it’s not farfetched to think this natural remedy for dogs could be for real. That said, using olive leaf extract for dog tumors, allergies, and other uses weren’t mentioned by the vets.

Formally, dogs have never been tested, nor have comparable large mammals. You really shouldn’t bet on it for it for anything and consulting your vet before using is highly recommended.

9. May lower blood sugar

In some European and Mediterranean countries, it has been used as an herbal remedy to allegedly help diabetes. Is there any evidence to support this?

In both humans and rats with diabetes, research has reported a blood sugar lowering effect when using olive leaf extract supplements.  Furthermore, lower amounts of HbA1c, which is a type of advanced glycation end product that is more problematic in diabetics, was also seen. (32)

In a double-blinded and placebo controlled trial with 46 overweight middle-aged men, those taking olive leaf extract for 8 weeks had a 15% improvement in insulin sensitivity and a 28% improvement in pancreatic ß-cell responsiveness. The dose was 4 capsules taken once a day. That equals 51.1 mg oleuropein and 9.7 mg hydroxytyrosol.

These charts show results from Oral Glucose Tolerance Tests (OGTT) and what happened in the short-term, after the men used a single dose of extracted leaves (black line) or placebo (grey line). (33)

As with the other benefits, this one does not have enough clinical data to be considered effective or proven. However, it does have some of the best research to support its likelihood.

10. Weight loss

Does olive leaf extract help weight loss?

In the study of 46 diabetic men, after the 12 weeks of supplementing with it, there was no change observed in body composition or weight. That throws cold water on this alleged health advantage.

Case closed? Maybe not.

While that study did measure weight, it wasn’t the focus or goal, nor were these men said to be seeking weight loss. Of course animal studies are no substitute, but there is one on this topic that’s intriguing.

Male rats were split into groups and for 12-weeks, fed one of the following:

• high-carb and high-fat diet
• high-carb and high-fat diet with olive leaf
• cornstarch diet
• cornstarch diet with olive leaf

The supplement led to “selectively reduced body weight” in those on the cornstarch diet, despite the fact that their calorie count was identical.

Since the high-carb and high-fat diet wasn’t helped, this suggests there might be a benefit when it comes to carbs/sugars and influencing their digestion. (34)

You don’t yet see diet pills peddling this ingredient to bust belly fat, but that may change if there are more findings like this.

Side effects

Olive leaf extract is well-tolerated and adverse reactions are rare in healthy individuals. In clinical trials, dosages of up to 1,000 mg per day for 8 weeks failed to show any side effects which were significant, or that could be attributed to the supplement with certainty. (35)

Possible adverse reactions include:

Low blood sugar

Since multiple pieces of research suggest it may lower blood sugar, diabetics should consult their doctor before using. Interactions with diabetic medications may result in too low of blood sugar.

Low blood pressure

While lower blood pressure is desirable for many, it could be dangerous for people who have it to begin with (hypotension). Those taking prescription drugs to lower their blood pressure may experience a drop that’s too low if there’s a synergistic effect.

Blood thinning

Olive leaf is among the supplements to avoid before surgery and if you are prone to excessive bleeding.

Similar to aspirin, oleanolic acid in olives has shown antiplatelet activity. That means it may reduce blood clotting. The cholesterol and triglyceride lowering benefits may also lead to increased bleeding in some people. If you are on anticoagulants, consult your doctor prior to using the leaf extract. (36) (37)

Allergic reactions

As with many plants, the pollen of the olive tree can cause a runny nose, itchy/watery eyes, and a scratchy throat. In the Mediterranean countries where they grow, it’s a major cause of seasonal allergies and instigator of asthma attacks.

Depending on the time of harvest and how the leaf extract is made, it’s possible there’s pollen contamination on the leaves. (38)

Pollen aside, allergies to the fruit are rare. Not many case studies have been published. Since they’re not normally a food, allergies from eating olive leaf or taking supplements don’t have research. In theory it’s possible to be allergic to the leaves but so far, there is no reason to believe it’s common. (39) (40) (41)

Unknown pregnancy safety

It has not been studied in women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Dosage information

How many mg of olive leaf should I take?

As a dietary supplement, most capsule brands are 500-600 mg each. Those marketed as extra or super strength are 750 mg each. The recommended dose is taking once or twice per day, depending on manufacturer.

Some brands use smaller doses of 250 mg and recommend them 4x daily, with the goal of a more constant level in the blood stream.

The best way to take olive leaf extract is on an empty stomach. The best time to take it is when you first wake up, if you don’t eat breakfast right away, and then again at night, just before sleep. Other times between meals also work.

You can take it daily but high doses of 500-750 mg taken 3 or 4 times daily are only recommended for short-term use, according to the Handbook of Medicinal Herbs.

How much oleuropein in olive leaf extract ranges from 5-20%. Many supplement labels disclose this but not the hydroxytyrosol percentage.

Can you overdose on olive leaf extract?

Probably. High dosages of several thousand mg have not been tested in humans, so the effects are unknown. In theory, such high amounts would increase the likelihood of side effects. There may also be other, unidentified dangers.

To avoid potentially overdosing, do not exceed a supplement label’s recommended daily limit.

Is liquid olive leaf extract better than capsules?

Proponents of water/glycerine-based liquids and ethanolic tinctures argue that these extraction processes make compounds in the leaves more bioavailable.

Critics point to the fact that a 500 mg powder-filled capsule will contain more oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol than a standard dose of liquid extract.

Since there is not good research comparing absorption and bioavailability between olive leaf liquid extract vs. capsules, neither can claim to be better in that regard.

There are other advantages to liquids, such as the ability to blend them in water for children and people who don’t like taking pills.

Ultimately, the choice between a capsule or a tincture is a personal one.

The liquid olive leaf extract dosage is 30-40 drops diluted in water, taken twice daily between meals. That’s according to the dosing instructions for Gaia Herbs organic liquid. It’s an alcohol-based tincture.

Barlean’s liquid extract is a bit different. Because it’s heavily diluted in water, the daily serving size listed is 1 tablespoon for adults and 1.5 teaspoons for children.

Keep in mind the extracts are for use as a dietary supplement only. They should not be used for any disease.

Where to buy

Since it’s not used as a food, you will not be able to buy fresh olive leaves at the grocery store. Capsules and liquid tinctures are what’s available.

You will often find it in the supplement aisle next to echinacea, elderberry, oregano oil, and vitamin C. Because like those, it’s marketed for immune system.

Being a niche supplement, typical drugstores like CVS and Walgreens, as well as big box retailers like Walmart and Costco, don’t sell it at every location. When they do, it may only be a brand or two. Probably Nature’s Way, as that’s the most common supermarket/drugstore brand.

The Vitamin Shoppe, Whole Foods, Sprouts, and other stores with a health emphasis will have a better selection.

The best brands of olive leaf extract include Pure Encapsulations, Gaia Herbs, Solaray, NOW, Thorne Research, and Swanson. There are many lesser-known brands which are of equal quality too, who source their ingredients from the same suppliers as major brands.

On Amazon we recommend the 500 mg “super strength” capsules from Island Nutrition because they have 20% hydroxytyrosol and 25% oleuropein. Get them in a bottle of 90 vegetarian capsules. If you prefer a liquid, try NOW’s 2 ounce dropper.


These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.