**Powerful Properties of Ozonated Extra Virgin Olive Oil**

**Powerful Properties of Ozonated Extra Virgin Olive Oil**

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.73211

Elisabetta Carata, Bernardetta Anna Tenuzzo and Luciana Dini Luciana Dini Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Elisabetta Carata, Bernardetta Anna Tenuzzo and

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.73211

#### **Abstract**

Extra virgin olive oil has been mainly produced and consumed in Mediterranean countries since ancient times; olive oil is one of the principal ingredients in the Mediterranean diet, and it constitutes the main source of nutritional fat. Aside from the high nutritional content of olive oil, it is also known for its cosmetic and therapeutic properties. In 1956, Thiers obtained satisfactory results in the treatment of scleroderma, stating that olive oil and its derivatives could be considered "a new group of therapeutic agents." Hincky reported the beneficial properties of olive oil in the treatment of dry, senescent and sensitive skins. This has opened a new perspective for the use of the olive fruit, thus contributing to the increase in research about new applications. One such application is ozonized olive oil, which combines the properties of ozone with those of olive oil, to obtain a peerless compound. The composition of olive oil makes it a suitable vehicle for cutaneous absorption, as it is able to stabilize ozone, which is a highly reactive molecule. The oxidant power of ozone has interesting effects on microorganism and on wound healing.

**Keywords:** extra virgin olive oil, ozone, herbal medicine, antimicrobial activity, wound healing
