Remedy Routes
    Herb

    Olive Leaf Extract

    Olea europaea

    TL;DR

    Olive leaf extract, standardised for oleuropein, produces small reductions in blood pressure and blood sugar in a handful of small trials. Reasonable as a food-adjacent adjunct, not a substitute for treatment.

    Ideal For

    • Adults with borderline blood pressure alongside diet and exercise
    • People pursuing a Mediterranean-pattern polyphenol intake

    Avoid If

    • You are on antihypertensive medication without monitoring
    • You take insulin or sulfonylureas, due to additive glucose lowering
    • You are pregnant or breastfeeding
    • You have an olive or Oleaceae pollen allergy

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is olive leaf extract?
    An extract of Olea europaea leaves standardised to oleuropein, a polyphenol also found in extra virgin olive oil.
    Does it lower blood pressure?
    Small trials at 500-1,000 mg/day report reductions of roughly 3-11 mmHg systolic in people with elevated readings. Studies are small and results vary.
    What dose is used?
    Commonly 500-1,000 mg/day of extract standardised to 16-20 percent oleuropein, taken in divided doses with food.
    Is it antiviral or antibacterial?
    Laboratory studies show activity, but there is no good human evidence that it treats or prevents infections. Do not rely on it when unwell.
    How does it compare with olive oil?
    Extra virgin olive oil delivers a broader polyphenol mix within a well-evidenced dietary pattern. The extract concentrates one compound with far less outcome data.
    Any interactions?
    It may add to blood pressure and glucose-lowering medication. Monitor readings and discuss with a prescriber before combining.

    Overview

    Olive leaf extract is standardised to oleuropein, the bitter secoiridoid also found in unrefined olive oil. The most cited human study is a 2011 randomised trial in twin brothers with borderline hypertension, in which 500 mg twice daily for eight weeks lowered systolic pressure by roughly 11 mmHg and improved LDL, comparable to captopril 12.5 mg twice daily in a separate arm. Later trials have been smaller and less dramatic, showing 3 to 5 mmHg reductions, modest improvements in insulin sensitivity in overweight men, and inconsistent lipid effects. Antimicrobial and antiviral claims rest on in vitro work only. Overall the direction of effect is plausible and consistent with the Mediterranean diet literature, but the trials are few, short and small.

    How It Works

    • Oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol scavenge reactive oxygen species and reduce LDL oxidation
    • Improves endothelial nitric oxide availability, relaxing vessels
    • Inhibits ACE weakly in vitro
    • Improves insulin sensitivity and slows carbohydrate digestion in small trials
    • Downregulates NF-kB-driven inflammatory signalling

    Benefits & Outcomes

    No linked outcomes yet. Research is ongoing.

    Health Concerns Addressed

    Elevated Blood Pressure

    symptom
    Mixed evidence
    Limited
    Effectiveness 2/5

    Trials conflict: a pooled effect of about 4 mmHg systolic and one large positive trial, against several null placebo-controlled trials, with no outcome data.

    Supporting Research
    17 studies

    Efficacy of olive leaf extracts in controlling blood pressure in hypertensive patients: a double-blind randomized clinical trial

    Score: 7/10
    2025
    rct
    n=621

    Lamti F, Trabelsi I, Dhaoui R +4 more

    OLE can decrease 24-h BP, BPL, and diastolic BPV with improvement of lipid profile

    View source

    The effects of olive leaf extract on cardiovascular risk factors in the general adult population: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

    Score: 7/10
    2022
    meta_analysis
    n=819

    Razmpoosh E, Abdollahi S, Mousavirad M +2 more

    supplementation with OLE yielded beneficial effects for blood pressure and lipid profile in adults

    View source

    Effects of a combination of olive leaf extract and potassium on blood pressure in participants with mild to moderate hypertension: A double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

    Score: 6/10
    2026
    rct
    n=70

    Fladerer-Grollitsch JP, Bucar F, Klein T +3 more

    morning systolic BP decreasing by 5.4 mmHg, in the verum group

    View source

    Metabolic and inflammatory effects of oleuropein and olive leaf extract: a systematic review and meta-analysis

    Score: 7/10
    2026
    meta_analysis

    Câmara Rocha Menezes R, Peres KK, da Mata IR +3 more

    The current evidence does not support clinical recommendations for OLE supplementation aimed at health benefits

    View source

    Evaluation of the effect of olive extracts on blood pressure and cardiovascular health markers in adults: Findings from a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised trial

    Score: 6/10
    2026
    rct
    n=56

    Lauwers S, Breynaert A, Verlaet A +4 more

    no significant hypotensive benefit was observed

    View source

    Olive leaf extract effect on cardiometabolic profile among adults with prehypertension and hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis

    Score: 6/10
    2021
    meta_analysis
    n=325

    Ismail MA, Norhayati MN, Mohamad N

    it may not provide a robust conclusion regarding the effects of olive leaf extract on cardiometabolic profile

    View source

    Olive leaf extract as a hypoglycemic agent in both human diabetic subjects and in rats

    Score: 4/10
    2012
    rct
    n=79

    Wainstein J, Ganz T, Boaz M +4 more

    the subjects treated with olive leaf extract exhibited significantly lower HbA1c and fasting plasma insulin levels

    View source

    Food supplementation with an olive (Olea europaea L.) leaf extract reduces blood pressure in borderline hypertensive monozygotic twins

    Score: 4/10
    2008
    cohort
    n=40

    Perrinjaquet-Moccetti T, Busjahn A, Schmidlin C +3 more

    Blood pressure changed significantly within pairs, depending on the dose

    View source

    Efficacy of Olive Leaf Extract in Improving Blood Pressure in Pre-Hypertensive and Hypertensive Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

    Score: 4/10
    2025
    meta_analysis
    n=248

    Lachovicz R, Ferro-Lebres V, Almeida-de-Souza J +1 more

    Olive leaf extract (1000 mg/day) may reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure

    View source

    Efficacy and safety of olive leaf extract (Olea europaea L.) for glycaemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (ESOLED): A pilot randomised controlled trial

    Score: 5/10
    2025
    rct
    n=31

    Leach MJ, Breakspear I

    OLE and placebo were found to be well-tolerated, with no severe or serious adverse events reported in either group

    View source

    Health status, risk factors and effects of olive leaf extract infusion (Olea europaea L.) on blood pressure in a hypertensive population

    Score: 3/10
    2025
    cohort
    n=220

    Affane F, Meskini Z, Araf A +3 more

    Olive leaf infusion consumption was associated with a significant reduction in SBP and DBP from the second week onward

    View source

    Effect of olive leaf extract supplementation on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

    Score: 7/10
    2022
    meta_analysis

    Ahmadi A, Jamialahmadi T, Sahebkar A

    Pooled trials showed a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure with olive leaf extract.

    View source

    The effect of olive leaf extract on cardiovascular health markers: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial

    Score: 7/10
    2021
    rct
    n=77

    Stevens Y, Winkens B, Jonkers D +1 more

    Olive leaf extract did not improve blood pressure, arterial stiffness or lipids versus placebo in healthy adults.

    View source

    Impact of phenolic-rich olive leaf extract on blood pressure, plasma lipids and inflammatory markers: a randomised controlled trial

    Score: 6/10
    2017
    crossover
    n=60

    Lockyer S, Rowland I, Spencer JPE

    Olive leaf extract lowered systolic blood pressure by about 3.5 mmHg and reduced total and LDL cholesterol.

    View source

    Olive (Olea europaea) leaf extract effective in patients with stage-1 hypertension: comparison with Captopril

    Score: 6/10
    2011
    rct

    Susalit E, Agus N, Effendi I

    Olive leaf extract lowered blood pressure comparably to captopril over eight weeks in stage-1 hypertension.

    View source

    Olive (Olea europaea L.) leaf polyphenols improve insulin sensitivity in middle-aged overweight men: a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial

    Score: 6/10
    2013
    crossover
    n=46

    de Bock M, Derraik JGB, Brennan CM

    Olive leaf polyphenols improved insulin sensitivity by 15% in overweight middle-aged men.

    View source

    Oleuropein, a Bioactive Compound from Olea europaea L., as a Potential Preventive and Therapeutic Agent in Non-Communicable Diseases

    Score: 6/10
    2019
    systematic_review

    Nediani C, Ruzzolini J, Romani A +1 more

    Olive polyphenol trials are small and heterogeneous in dose and extract standardisation.

    View source

    Safety Information

    Potential Side Effects

    Mild GI upset, headache and occasional dizziness from blood pressure lowering. Bitter taste is common.

    Contraindications

    Pregnancy and lactation due to absent data; caution with hypotension.

    Drug Interactions

    • Antihypertensives: additive blood pressure reduction
    • Antidiabetic drugs: additive glucose lowering
    • Possible mild interaction with drugs cleared by CYP enzymes

    Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

    Pregnancy: Not enough evidence to judge

    Breastfeeding: Not enough evidence to judge

    Dosage Guidelines

    Dosage Used in Studies

    Consult healthcare provider

    Dosing by Goal

    GoalDoseNotes
    Typical500 mg standardised extract twice daily
    Range500-1000 mg daily of 16-20% oleuropein extract
    DurationTrials ran 6-12 weeks
    NotesCheck oleuropein percentage, not just milligrams of leaf

    Forms Compared

    Standardised extract 16-20% oleuropein

    The format used in blood pressure trials

    Whole leaf powder

    Much lower and more variable oleuropein content

    Liquid tincture

    Concentration rarely standardised

    Hydroxytyrosol-enriched extract

    Focuses on the downstream metabolite

    Food & Timing

    With meals; taking it alongside carbohydrate may help the glycaemic effect.

    Medical Disclaimer

    The information provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or before starting any supplement regimen.

    Individual results may vary. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products and information are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.