Olive biophenols: biomolecular characterization, distribution and phytoalexin histochemical localization in the drupes

Olive biophenols (BP) comprise a major group oi secondary metabolites that display a wealth of structural variety and a great diversity of important b iological activities. Recently, an explosion oi interest in the olive bioph enol pathway has been observed which has been closely matched by related in vestigations into olivegrowing practices, For the production of extra virgi n olive oil (EVOO) and table olives (TO). Major advances have been stimulat ed by multidisciplinary research on olive biophenol composition, histologic al distribution, and histochemical enzymatic localization of BPs to determi ne their biomolecular function, activated by native beta -glucosidase on se coiridoid (seco) conjugates, such as oleuropein, which releases phytoalexin s against pathogens. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.