Oleuropein and copper: New perspectives against liver disease

Introduction: Diet significantly affects health. Incorrect feeding results in overweight or obesity that are associated with liver steatosis, a pathological condition that affects about 30% of the world's population. This pathology, characterized by accumulation of fat in the liver, inflammation and balloning, can progress toward cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma (HCC). In such processes, transition metals (copper, zinc, Fe, etc.) play a key role. Accordingly, altered copper homeostasis has been observed in various stages of NAFLD. Mediterranean diet has beneficial effects on health, and olive oil is one of the main actors. Oleuropein (Ole), a phenolic compound derived from green olives and olive leaves, is able to bind copper.