**2.7 Hydroxytyrosol as an antinitrosating agent**

The antinitrosating properties of hydroxytyrosol and other plant polyphenols of dietary relevance have been investigated (De Lucia et al., 2008). It has been shown that HT reacts with sodium nitrite at pH 3 to give 2-nitrohydroxytyrosol, supporting a protective role of HT as an efficient scavenger of nitrosating species (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2. 2-Nitrohydroxytyrosol formed by nitrosation of HT
