A Noble History
2,925 BC
Ancient Egyptians see the olive leaf as a symbol of heavenly power and may be the first to use the leaf for health purposes.
776 BC
Ancient Greeks award the revered olive leaf wreaths to the winners of the first Olympic Games, a practice which continues in the modern Olympics.
323 BC
Greek mythology describes the olive tree as the creation of the goddess Athena, who first planted one at the Acropolis and endowed it with powers to 'illuminate the darkness, soothe wounds and provide nourishment.'
1811
First reported use of 'olive leaf extract'. Dr. Pallas uses his own liquid extract to reduce malaria fever on the island of Mytelene in Greece.
1843
Daniel Hanbury uses olive leaf tea to cure severe cases of fever and malaria and reported his findings. His method becomes well known in England for treating sick Britons returning from the tropical colonies. The author believes that a bitter substance in the leaves is the key healing ingredient but is unable to identify it.
1854
Pharmaceutical Journal of Provincial Transactions states that the properties of the tree, Olea europaea, deserve more extensive investigation.
Early 1900's
A bitter compound called 'Oleuropein' is identified in the leaves of the olive tree. The compound is believed to be a part of the olive tree's powerful disease resistant structure.
1962
An Italian researcher records that oleuropein has the ability to lower blood pressure in animals. Other European researchers validate that claim and also find that it increases blood flow in the coronary arteries, relieves arrhythmias and prevents intestinal muscle spasms.
1960 to Present Day
Australian, European, Middle-Eastern, South African and North American scientists conclude that compounds in olive leaf extract:
- have strong anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic capabilities;
- are powerful antioxidants;
- inhibit the oxidation of low density lipoproteins (the 'bad cholesterol' involved in heart disease);
- cause relaxation of arterial walls in laboratory animals;
- reduce hypertension (high blood pressure), blood sugar, and levels of uric acid; and
- have a range of other capabilities of benefit to human health.
1968-1972
US pharmaceutical company, Upjohn, researches olive leaf compounds but comes up against challenges that lead to the research being discontinued.
1974
Two years after Upjohn's research, Ray and Delphine Archer, Directors of Olive Leaf Australia Pty Ltd, start their research and work with the Olea europaea tree. From humble beginnings in a small farm shed, their olive journey sees them owning and operating an olive nursery selling more than five million olive trees, an olive industry tools and equipment business, an olive industry magazine and an olive grove consulting business. They also lead olive industry research tours throughout the Mediterranean, California and Argentina.
1994
Olive Leaf Australia's Directors invest in research to set industry benchmarks in the process of harvesting olive branches for the propagation of Olea europaea trees. Foliage freshness is the focal criteria and it proves to be a vital point which leads them to discoveries about the bio-effectiveness of olive leaf extract unnoticed by Upjohn in the early 1970's.
1996
Olive Leaf Australia's Directors discover that a powerful synergy of defence compounds in certain olive leaves enable the trees to live for more than 1,000 years.
1997
After more than 20 years of tireless research and implementation Ray Archer is described by the media as 'The Father of the Australian Olive Industry' which is fast duplicating the success of the Australian Wine Industry. In the same year, medical researcher and author Dr Morton Walker prophetically describes olive leaf extract with the words, 'Based on my research, I am convinced that olive leaf extract is destined to become the most useful, wide spectrum anti-microbial herbal ingredient of the 21st century.'
1998
Olive Leaf Australia reaches pre-production trials stage on its olive leaf extract. Assessment of leaf quality and post-harvest freshness research in the Mediterranean and elsewhere clearly show that the company needs to harvest from its own DNA-identified and HPLC-selected trees in 'clean and green' Australia. The subsequent bio-effectiveness reports, on which all healthcare products rise or fall, are supportive and conclusive so the company sets strategies for further product development.
1999
Olive Leaf Australia conducts a trial pre-launch of its liquid olive leaf extract. The decision to manufacture a naturally oleuropein-rich, synergistically formulated olive leaf extract as a high-strength liquid with no artificially-enhanced oleuropein leads to an unprecedented increase in reported health benefits from their clients. It's a winner!
Projected company growth requires the planting of 360,000 DNA-identified olive trees, making it the largest specialized olive leaf grove in the world. The trees are HPLC-selected from a medicinal trial of 60 varieties of Olea europaea grown in the company's International Olive Cultivar Research Grove.
2001
Olive Leaf Australia's liquid extracts launched in Australia via direct sales.
2003
Olive Leaf Australia's liquid extracts launched into Australian health food stores.
2004
After seeing the extremely positive response in the Australian market, Olive Leaf Australia commences export trials to Asia. University studies show that Olive Leaf Australia's liquid extracts contain up to 40 times more polyphenols than even extra virgin olive oil.
2005
Olive Leaf Australia's liquid extracts launched into Australian pharmacies. University studies report an internationally-acclaimed antioxidant capacity for Olive Leaf Australia's liquid extracts.
Antioxidant power is five times more than Vitamin C and almost twice that of green tea extract and grape seed extract.
2006
Exports grow rapidly and the company hits a double jackpot with back-to-back awards for Agribusiness Exports and Emerging Exports.
An additional 150,000 HPLC-selected Olea europaea trees are planted bringing the total to more than half a million.
University bioassay studies report strong potential for Olive Leaf Australia's extracts in the areas of prostate and breast cancer, inflammatory conditions and bacterial infections.A human clinical trial on cardiovascular disease, blood pressure and inflammation commences at an Australian university and hospitals.
2007
Olive Leaf Australia launches 'MediOlive® Olive Leaf Complex' internationally.
2008
Olive Products Australia wins the ‘Best New Product’ category of the UK’s 2008 Health Food Business Awards for its ‘Comvita Olive Leaf Complex’.
The winning product is proudly, grown, extracted and bottled in our south-east Queensland olive grove. These hotly contested awards are voted by retail health food stores across the UK.
2009
Olive Leaf Australia’s fresh-picked extract launched in the USA under the Barlean’s brand. According to company founder Bruce Barlean, who has worked in the health industry for decades, “There is no other health supplement on the US market with as powerful antioxidant and broad spectrum health benefits as this fresh-picked, Australian, olive leaf liquid.”
