The olive tree belongs to the tribe Oleae from the family Oleaceae, which comprises around 600 specious and some 25 genera, including Olea, which contains an economically important European olive tree known as Olea europaea L. Olive fruit represents a rich source of valuable and bioactive nutrients, which can be considered of medicinal and therapeutic interest since they have shown positive activity on blood platelet aggregation, chronic inflammation, joint health, oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, neurodegenerative disorders, and skin conditions. The present chapter give an overview of the bioactive compounds present in olive fruit (chloroplastic pigments, phytosterols, tocopherols, triterpenoids, and phenols) by recording their amounts and their distribution among olive pulp, skin, and stone. Furthermore, the beneficial effects of the peculiar bioactive compounds of olive fruits on human health have been exploited. In particular, the effect on metabolic syndrome, antitumor, and neuroprotective activities exerted by maslinic, oleanolic, and oleuropein are described. Additionally, the antioxidant and antiatherogenic activities of oleuropein are detailed.
