PROJECT OVERVIEW

The main objective of the project is to enhance the utilization of olive by-products for obtaining a nutraceutical with anti-inflammatory activity, and to understand the effect of its prolonged consumption on the biological mechanisms related to its bioactivity in the body.

To achieve this objective, extraction and microencapsulation methodologies of the bioactive compounds present in olive leaf and olive pomace will be optimized at the laboratory scale to achieve maximum extraction efficiency of these phytochemicals. The extracts obtained will be thoroughly characterized to identify the bioactive fraction present in their composition, and those with higher content of these compounds will be evaluated in vitro to study the extract that exhibits the greatest anti-inflammatory activity.

Subsequently, the production scale-up of this bioactive ingredient will be carried out at pilot and industrial scale, and the formulation and production of a nutraceutical will be conducted, which will be evaluated in a longitudinal nutritional intervention study over several months. Throughout this intervention, the general health status of each volunteer will be monitored through a mobile application, and samples of blood, saliva, urine, and feces will be collected, which will be subsequently analyzed using a combination of different -omics platforms (metabolomics, epigenomics, and microbiomics) to provide a holistic view of how the human body reacts to the consumption of bioactive compounds from olive and the effects of this consumption.

The innovative aspect of this proposal lies in the creation of a new model of circular bioeconomy in the olive sector through the comprehensive utilization of by-products from this industry for the formulation of this nutraceutical, and understanding the effect of its prolonged intake.

Project Data:
  • Funding Entity: Funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (FEADER), and by the Regional Government of Andalusia through the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Sustainable Development.
  • Announcement: Grants aimed at supporting the operation of Operational Groups of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) in the field of agricultural productivity and sustainability for the implementation of pilot projects and the development of new products, practices, processes, and technologies in the agricultural, food, and forestry sectors, within the framework of the Rural Development Program of Andalusia 2014-2020.
  • Category: Line 2. Operation 16.1.3: Grants for the operation of Operational Groups of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) in the field of agricultural productivity and sustainability in the olive sector.
  • Consortium Partners: CIDAF, UGR, Deretil, FIDESOL, and Cooperativas Agroalimentarias de Andalucía.
  • Funding: Junta de Andalucía and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (FEADER). €296,198.87
  • Deadline Execution: 2021/2024

TECNOLOGÍAS INNOVADORAS EMPLEADAS:

  • Optimization of extraction and microencapsulation methodologies for obtaining olive byproduct extracts with high anti-inflammatory activity.
  • Pilot-scale scaling of extraction and microencapsulation processes for olive anti-inflammatory compounds.
  • Formulation of nutraceuticals in hard gelatin capsules.
  • Optimization of methodologies for studying the mechanism of action of olive anti-inflammatory compounds using a metabolomic approach based on HPLC-QTOF-MS in plasma samples from a nutritional intervention study.