It is conventional wisdom that extra virgin olive oil, a key component of the Mediterranean diet, is an excellent dietary staple. Not only is it a great way to add flavor to your food, but it also has a wide range of health benefits, many of which are due to a specific component of extra virgin olive oil called oleocanthal (OC). OC acts as an antioxidant, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent, and a neuroprotectant. It is even known to inhibit certain types of cancer cells by causing them to undergo cell death. In fact, the Mediterranean diet is well-know for being associated with reduced rates of cancer. In a recent study published by Taylor & Francis, Scientists Paul Breslin, David Foster, and Onica LeGendre have discovered just how exactly olive oil contributes to this, and the answer is pretty cool.
In the study, the researchers wanted to figure out the mechanism behind OC-induced cancer cell death. In order to determine this, they treated different types of both cancerous and non-cancerous cells with OC. They observed that all of the cancer cells died in as soon as 30 minutes, while the healthy cells did not.
They found that the cancer cells essentially died from their own toxic waste. This process is called lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP). Lysosomes are membrane-bound sacs inside of cells that store waste. During LMP, these sacs rupture, and their toxic contents are released, killing the cell.
Image Source: Science Photo Library Steve GSCHMEISSNER
So what does OC have to do with this? Normally, lysosome membranes are stabilized (kept from rupturing) by an enzyme called acid sphingomyelinase (ASM). The researchers discovered that OC inhibits this stabilizing enzyme, which leads to weakened lysosome membranes that rupture and releases their cell-destroying contents. This process occurred only in the cancerous cells, suggesting that their lysosomal membranes are more vulnerable.
The discovery of OC as a compound that is capable of destroying cancer cells without harming healthy cells is very significant for cancer research. This is a relatively new area of study, and findings such as these show promise for the therapeutic potential of compounds like olive oil in treating cancer, not to mention the value of adding olive oil to one’s diet.
*Read the full article online: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23723556.2015.1006077
Feature Image Source: Olive Oil bottle by Ted
