2000/07/01 by Robert W. Owen, Walter Mier, Attilio Giacosa +3 · 3 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Chemistry · Medicine · #Antioxidant #Chemistry #Chromatography #Edible Oils Quality and Analysis #Food science #Fraction (chemistry) #Fractionation #Lignan #Olive oil #Organic chemistry #Phenols #Phytoestrogen effects and research #Pinoresinol #Plant-derived Lignans Synthesis and Bioactivity
paper · doi:10.1093/clinchem/46.7.976
openalex publication_date 2000/07/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
BACKGROUND: Because olive oil is an important component of the Mediterranean diet, it is necessary to establish unequivocal identification of the major potential antioxidant phenolic compounds it contains. METHODS: The major phenolic antioxidants in extra virgin olive oil were isolated and purified. Structural analysis was conducted using several spectroscopic techniques, including mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). In particular, detailed (1)H and (13)C NMR data are presented, and several assignment errors in the literature are corrected. RESULTS: The data show for the first time that the lignans (+)-1-acetoxypinoresinol and (+)-pinoresinol are major components of the phenolic fraction of olive oils. These lignans, which are potent antioxidants, are absent in seed oils and virtually absent in refined virgin oils but are present at concentrations of up to 100 mg/kg (mean +/- SE, 41.53+/-3.93 mg/kg; range, 0.65-99.97 mg/kg) in extra virgin oils. As with the simple phenols and secoiridoids, there is considerable interoil variation in lignan concentrations. Foods containing high amounts of lignan precursors have been found to be protective against breast, colon, and prostate cancer. CONCLUSION: Lignans, as natural components of the diet, may be important modulators of cancer chemopreventive activity.