**4. Conclusions**

For virus inactivation, a higher gas dosage than that required for bacteria is necessary. The ozone oxidates and subsequently inactivates the specific viral receptors used to bind the cell wall for virus invasion [54]. We tested the antibacterial activity of Bioxoil™ on mycete *Epidermophyton floccosum*, demonstrating its efficacy in the inhibition of mycete's growth in liquid and agar medium; the bacteriostatic effect is obtained in the presence of 5 μl/ml of ozonated olive oil, and the bactericidal effect is obtained in the presence of 15 μl/ml (**Figure 4**). The antibacterial activity of Bioxoil™ was also tested on *Staphylococcus aureus* and *Staphylococcus epidermidis*, and its efficacy in inhibiting microbes growing both in liquid medium culture and

**Figure 4.** Growth curves of mycete *Epidermophyton floccosum* in liquid culture medium: 1A, 2A, and 3A are the positive controls with 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/ml of nonozonized olive oil, respectively; 1B, 2B, and 3B are ozonized olive oil samples

**Figure 3.** Molecular mechanism of antimicrobial activity of ozonides: the oxygen internalized from ozonides reacts with

that has a bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity.

the proton/protons in order to form H2

238 Herbal Medicine

O2

with 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/ml of ozonized olive oil, respectively; 4 is the negative control.

The goal of pharmacological research has always been that of finding drugs that can cure diseases or soothe the pain that derives from them, and this research has evolved over the years in an extraordinary way both in the field of medical knowledge and scientific studies that are more and more powerful and sophisticated. Medicinal herbs, long popular in many parts of the world, are increasingly spreading in the western world and represent a large commercial market with an estimated annual growth of 25%, often replacing synthetic drugs. Among the medicinal herbs, particular interest is reserved to olive oil, called "yellow gold" by the Egyptians for its innumerable beneficial properties. Herbal trade today sees many products based on olive oil for both hygiene and personal care. In the field of oil-based products, particular interest is directed to products containing ozonated oil; these products are the result of the union of the beneficial properties of olive oil with those of ozone. Ozonated oil is the most practical, innovative, harmless, and noninvasive of the techniques of application developed in the field of ozone therapy over the last 130 years. It has demonstrated interesting therapeutic results. The biological effects of ozone include antimicrobial activity (antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal), antalgic action, and improved O<sup>2</sup> metabolism [59]. In this chapter, the possible applications of the Bioxoil™ products, already distributed in pharmacies and herbalist's shops, have been described; its production line includes five different products characterized by different concentrations of ozonides such as to allow the use for the most varied skin affections. Bioxoil with the highest content of ozonides is indicated for the treatment of bedsores at first and second stages, thanks to its anti-inflammatory and cicatrizing properties, Bioxoil with medium concentrations, but different from each other, is indicated for the treatment of herpes labialis, mycosis, and onychomycosis and for acne due to its antimicrobial action. Finally, Bioxoil with the lowest ozonide content is indicated to soothe contact or allergic irritations. The exceptional usability of the product and its completely natural origin offers a vast market.

**Author details**

Elisabetta Carata<sup>1</sup>

**References**

1996;**25**:409-427

Neurology. 1996;**47**:161-170

, Bernardetta Anna Tenuzzo<sup>1</sup>

1 Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Technology, Lecce, Italy

[1] Shenefelt PD. Herbal Treatment for Dermatological Disorders. In: Wachtel-Galor S, editor. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd ed. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. Chapter 18. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed? term=Benzie%20IFF%5BEditor%5D Benzie IFF, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

[2] Grigg D. Olive oil, the Meditarranean and the world. GeoJournal. 2001;**53**:163-172

[3] Loumou A, Giourga C. Olive groves: The life and identity of the Mediterranean. Agri-

[4] Trichopoulou A, Katsaiyanni K, Giardelles C. The traditional Greek diet. European

[5] Viola G, Salvador A, Vedaldi D, Fortunato E, Disaro S, Basso G, Queiroz RP. Induction of apoptosis by photoexcited tetracyclic compounds derivatives of benzo[b]thiophenes and pyridines. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology. 2006;**82**:105-116

[6] Morrow JD, Awad JA, Roberts LJ II, Burk RF. Isoprostanes—Prostaglandin-like compounds formed in vivo independently of cyclooxygenase. Gastroenterology Clinics.

[7] Nakae D, Kobayashi Y, Akai H, Andoh N, Satoh H, Ohashi K, Tsutsumi M, Konishi Y. Involvement of 8-hydroxyguanine formation in the initiation of rat liver carcinogenesis by low dose levels of *N*-nitrosodiethylamine. Cancer Research. 1997;**57**:1281-1287

[9] Orlando RC. Mechanisms of epithelial injury and inflammation in gastrointestinal dis-

[10] Jenner P, Orlando CW. Oxidative stress and the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.

[11] Vissers MN, Zock PL, Katan MB. Bioavailability and antioxidant effects of olive oil phenols in humans: A review. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2004;**58**(6):955-965

[8] Berliner JA. Atherosclerosis: Basic mechanisms. Circulation. 1995;**91**:2488-2496

eases. The American Journal of Gastroenterology. 1995;**107**:8-15

\*Address all correspondence to: luciana.dini@unisalento.it

pubmed?term=Wachtel-Galor%20S%5BEditor%5D

culture and Human Values. 2002;**20**:87-95

Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1993;**47**:576-581

2 CNR-Nanotech Centro Ecotekne, Lecce, Italy

and Luciana Dini1,2\*

Powerful Properties of Ozonated Extra Virgin Olive Oil http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.73211 241
