Tyrosol is a natural phenolic substance found mainly in plants such as olives, vines and pine trees. It is characterized as an organic compound with the chemical formula HOC6H4CH2CH2OH classified as a phenyl ethanoid and is also a derivative of phenethyl alcohol and is found in a variety of natural products. As a compound, it is colourless, solid and exhibits the chemical behaviour of an alcohol. It is found in the essential components - beneficial for human nutrition - of olive oil.[1][2]



As an antioxidant, tyrosol may protect cells from oxidative injury in vitro.[3] Although it is not as active as other antioxidants present in olive oil (e.g., hydroxytyrosol), its higher concentration and good bioavailability suggest that it may have an overall beneficial effect.[4]

As an active substance, it may also be cardioprotective, since animals treated with Trosol showed a significant increase in Akt, eNOS and FOXO3a phosphorylation.[5] Furthermore, tyrosol also induced the expression of the SIRT1 protein in the heart after myocardial infarction in a pineal MI model. [6]


References

1.Charoenprasert, Suthawan; Mitchell, Alyson (2012). «Factors Influencing Phenolic Compounds in Table Olives (Olea europaea)». Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 60 (29): 7081–7095. doi:10.1021/jf3017699. PMID 22720792.
2.Karković Marković, Ana; Torić, Jelena; Barbarić, Monika; Jakobušić Brala, Cvijeta (2019). «Hydroxytyrosol, Tyrosol and Derivatives and Their Potential Effects on Human Health». Molecules 24 (10): 2001. doi:10.3390/molecules24102001. PMID 31137753.
3.«Tyrosol, the major olive oil biophenol, protects against oxidized-LDL-induced injury in Caco-2 cells». J. Nutr. 129 (7): 1269–1277. 1999. doi:10.1093/jn/129.7.1269. PMID 10395586.
4.«Tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol are absorbed from moderate and sustained doses of virgin olive oil in humans». European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 57 (1): 186–190. 2003. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601532. PMID 12548315.
5.«Akt/FOXO3a/SIRT1-Mediated Cardioprotection by n-Tyrosol against Ischemic Stress in Rat in Vivo Model of Myocardial Infarction: Switching Gears toward Survival and Longevity.». Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 56 (20): 9692–8. 2008. doi:10.1021/jf802050h. PMID 18826227.
6.Samuel, Samson Mathews; Thirunavukkarasu, Mahesh; Penumathsa, Suresh Varma; Paul, Debayon; Maulik, Nilanjana (2008-10-22). «Akt/FOXO3a/SIRT1-mediated cardioprotection by n-tyrosol against ischemic stress in rat in vivo model of myocardial infarction: switching gears toward survival and longevity». Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 56 (20): 9692–9698. doi:10.1021/jf802050h. ISSN 1520-5118. PMID 18826227.