The concentration of oleocanthal in olive oil waste

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of oleocanthal in olive pomace waste and compare this to its concentration in extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO). The concentration of oleocanthal in freshly pressed EVOO and its subsequent waste was analysed at early, mid and late season harvests. Oleocanthal concentrations were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. In oil, oleocanthal concentration was as follows: 123.24 ± 6.48 mg kg⁻¹ in early harvest, 114.20 ± 17.42 mg kg⁻¹ in mid harvest and 152.22 ± 10.54 mg kg⁻¹ in late harvest. Its concentration in waste was determined to be: 128.25 ± 11.33 mg kg⁻¹ in early harvest, 112.15 ± 1.51 mg kg⁻¹ in mid harvest and 62.35 ± 8.00 mg kg⁻¹ in late harvest. Overall, olive pomace waste is a valuable source of oleocanthal.

Keywords:

• oleocanthal
• olive pomace waste
• olive oil
• phenolic compounds

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Modern Olives and Boundary Bend for supplying the EVOO and pomace waste used in the study. This study was supported by the RPA cluster funding from the Faculty of Health, Medicine, Nursing and Behavioural Sciences, Deakin University, Australia.