Simplified Way to Determine Polyphenol Contents of Olive Oil Developed By Researchers

How To Maximise Polyphenols Health Benefits From Olive Oil

Researchers in Italy have developed a new and simplified way to measure the amount of polyphenols in extra virgin olive oils.

According to a report in the Olive Oil Times, researchers from the University of Teramo’s agriculture, bioscience, food and technology department, commonly used methods require chemical solvents and several hours of work by trained technicians.

The simplified method could replace current polyphenol testing procedures which require the technician to sample the olive oil, treat the samples for analysis and determine the polyphenol capacity data. They also involve methanol and hexane-based solvents, which are highly toxic, costly and require proper handling, storage and disposal.

“Among the goals of this work is to make it easier and faster to evaluate the  antioxidant capacity of extra virgin olive oil,” study co-author Flavio Della Pelle told Olive Oil Times. “At the same time, we aimed at making it more sustainable, avoiding the use of solvents.”

“The whole process happens in a laboratory, and it can take hours, during which several tools are used,” Della Pelle said. “We are trying to transfer the current cumbersome analysis to an easy-to-use piece of paper which also works as an extractor.”

According to OOT, the latest method requires a portable laser sensor to read a specifically molded paper strip. The sample analyzed through the new technique does not require any pre-treatment.

The device simplifies the operations for measuring polyphenols, including antioxidants, reducing a series of steps typically deployed for such analysis to a single operation. The results are obtained by coupling the device with a smartphone. The lab-on-a-strip device calculates the results within minutes.

According to the study published in Food Chemistry, the results obtained by the new method are reliable.

“To verify the process, we analyzed the same olive oils with the usual traditional means of analysis,” Della Pelle said. “The results show that the new method offers reliable results.”

In addition to these benefits, there are other positives to the new method which are related to its manufacturing process. 

“All the device components, including the sensor, have been manufactured with office-grade materials and accessible instruments which allow semi-automated manufacturing,”

Della Pelle

“We are also working to remove plastics from the device and replace that with sustainable materials,” Della Pelle added.

The researcher aims to make the method available throughout the olive oil production supply chain. The study is part of the Vitality Project funded by the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan, a project which includes several central Italian regions.

Antioxidants And Polyphenols In Olive Oil: Why Should We Care?

Extra virgin olive oil is not only a flavorful addition to many dishes, but it also provides numerous health benefits. Polyphenols and antioxidants found in extra virgin olive oil have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

These compounds also act as free radical scavengers, which can protect cells from oxidative damage. When selecting extra virgin olive oil, be sure to look for those with a high polyphenol content, as this can indicate its potential health benefits. Incorporating extra virgin olive oil into your diet is an easy and delicious way to support your overall health and wellbeing.

“The general interest in antioxidants and extra virgin olive oil is growing, and we have been working on both for many years,” study co-author Flavio Della Pelle told Olive Oil Times. “Polyphenols are crucial, not only because they impact the organoleptic qualities of extra virgin olive oil but also because of their nutritional qualities.”

“Today, many producers tell their customers that their olive oil is rich in polyphenols as it is useful for consumers to know that polyphenols are there,” Delle Pelle said.

“While many excellent olive oils might have a lower count of polyphenols, it would be certainly interesting to know their exact volume when their presence is high, and it is destined to exert a relevant antioxidant activity,”

Flavio Della Pelle

The Polyphenol Count of Morocco Gold Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Morocco Gold extra virgin olive oil is high in polyphenols. The high polyphenol content of our extra virgin olive oil depends on three factors. First is the variety of the olive, secondly the climate and terroire of the growing region and thirdly the actual time in the growing season that the crop is harvested all contribute to a high-quality extra virgin olive oil.

We are delighted to say the total polyphenol count in our latest harvest of Morocco Gold extra virgin olive oil is:

The following illustrates the range of chronic conditions where research into these polyphenols oil has demonstrated positive effects.