The invention provides olive-derived hydroxytyrosol. According to one
aspect of the invention, vegetation water is collected from olives. Acid
is added to stabilize the vegetation water and prevent fermentation. The
mixture is incubated to allow oleoeuropein to convert to hydroxytyrosol,
and then fractionated to separate hydroxytyrosol from other components.
The hydroxytyrosol is useful as a natural anti-bacterial, anti-viral and
fungicidal product for agricultural and pest control applications. In
addition, it is useful as a therapeutic and anti-oxidant for a variety of
health purposes.