3,4-Dihydroxyphenylethanol

Hydroxytyrosol is a phenylethanoid, a type of phenolic phytochemical with antioxidant properties in vitro. In nature, hydroxytyrosol is found in olive leaf and olive oil, in the form of its elenolic acid ester oleuropein and, especially after degradation, in its plain form. Hydroxytyrosol itself in pure form is a colorless, odorless liquid. The olives, leaves and olive pulp contain large amounts of hydroxytyrosol (compared to olive oil), most of which can be recovered to produce hydroxytyrosol extracts. However, it was found that black olives, such as common canned variety, containing iron(II) gluconate contained very little of the original hydroxytyrosol, as iron salts are catalysts for its oxidation. Hydroxytyrosol is also a metabolite of the neurotransmitter dopamine. (In Vitro):Hydroxytyrosol (DOPET) shows the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α) and reduces the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) more than 60%.Hydroxytyrosol (DOPET) modulates the transcription factor NF-κB.Hydroxytyrosol (DOPET) arrests the cell cycle, producing differentiation, apoptosis, or preventing DNA from oxidative stress.