Oleocanthal is essentially found ONLY in: Fresh, unrefined extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
It is part of the pungent, throat-stinging phenolic fraction that disappears in refined oils.
Also available as a supplement usually labeled as Olive Leaf Extract. (20-50% concentrations)
- commonly used in CSC (Cancer Stem Cell) research.
Main CSC mechanisms:
-Inhibits Wnt/β-catenin — a core CSC survival pathway
-↓ALDH (Reduces ALDH-high CSC subpopulations)
-downregulates stemness geens: SOX2/OCT4/Nanog → reduced sphere formation/self-renewal.