Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Feb 26, 2026 1 hour, 31 minutes ago
Medical News: Researchers in Italy have uncovered promising new evidence that compounds derived from olive leaves may help protect aging bones by limiting fat accumulation inside the bone marrow while supporting the growth of healthy stem cells. The findings shed light on how natural plant extracts could influence bone health at the cellular level.
Olive leaf extract reduces bone marrow fat formation while promoting healthy stem cell growth, offering potential
support for aging bone health
The study was conducted by scientists from the Clinic of Laboratory and Precision Medicine at IRCCS INRCA in Ancona; the Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences (DISCLIMO) and the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health at Università Politecnica delle Marche in Ancona; and the Department of Health Sciences and the AGreen Food Research Center at the University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Italy.
Why Bone Marrow Fat Is a Concern
Bone marrow is not just a hollow space inside bones. It contains special stem cells known as bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells. These cells can develop into bone-forming cells or fat cells. With aging, however, more of these stem cells shift toward becoming fat cells. This gradual build-up of bone marrow fat has been linked to weaker bones and reduced regenerative capacity.
Instead of focusing only on stimulating new bone formation, researchers are now investigating whether preventing excessive fat formation in the marrow could help preserve overall skeletal health.
Testing Olive Leaf Extract on Human Stem Cells
In this
Medical News report, scientists explored whether olive leaf extract and two of its key natural components—oleacin and oleuropein aglycone—could influence how human bone marrow stem cells behave.
Human stem cells were grown in laboratory conditions and encouraged to develop into fat cells. Before proceeding, researchers confirmed that the doses used were safe, maintaining at least 85 percent cell viability.
When untreated stem cells were pushed toward fat development, they accumulated large visible fat droplets. However, cells treated with olive leaf extract showed a marked reduction in fat droplet formation. The purified compounds also reduced fat development, but their effects were more selective and less extensive than the whole extract.
Key Fat-Forming Signals Were Suppressed
At the molecular level, olive leaf extract significantly reduced the activity of several major genes involved in fat formation, including PPARγ, PLIN1, FABP4, ADIPOQ, LEP, and PGC-1α. These genes play central roles in turning stem cells into mature fat cells and in regulating lipid storage.
The extract also lowered levels of miR-422a, a small regulatory molecule associated with fat cell development. Oleacin and oleuropein aglycone influenced some of these markers individually, but neither matched the bro
ad, coordinated suppression seen with the full olive leaf extract.
Protein analysis further confirmed that adiponectin production and release—a marker of mature fat cells—were significantly reduced, especially in cells treated with the complete extract.
Unexpected Boost in Stem Cell Proliferation
In addition to limiting fat formation, olive leaf extract increased the number of actively dividing stem cells. Cells exposed to the extract showed higher levels of Ki-67, a well-known marker of cell proliferation. At the same time, these cells exhibited lower fat accumulation.
This dual action suggests that olive leaf extract not only restrains fat development but also helps maintain a healthier, more expandable pool of undifferentiated stem cells within the bone marrow.
Implications for Aging and Bone Health
Aging is associated with reduced stem cell renewal and increased bone marrow fat, both of which contribute to bone fragility and impaired regeneration. By reducing adipogenic commitment and supporting proliferative capacity, olive leaf extract may help counteract some of these age-related changes.
Conclusion
The study demonstrates that olive leaf extract exerts a dual protective effect on bone marrow stem cells by limiting their conversion into fat cells while promoting their capacity to proliferate and remain functionally competent. Although the purified components oleacin and oleuropein aglycone displayed beneficial effects, the complete extract showed a broader and more powerful influence, likely due to the combined action of multiple natural compounds working together. While these findings are based on laboratory experiments and further in vivo research is needed, the results provide an important cellular framework suggesting that olive leaf-derived phytochemicals could play a supportive role in preserving bone marrow integrity and skeletal health during aging.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Pharmaceuticals.
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/19/3/353
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Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/herbs-and-phytochemicals
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/anti-aging
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