Cell protection from Ca 2+ -overloading by bioactive molecules extracted from olive pomace.

We are reporting in the present study that molecules extracted from olive pomace prevent cell death induced by Ca2+ -overloading in different cell types. Exposure of cells to these molecules counteracts the Ca2+ -induced cell damages by reducing the activation of the Ca2+ -dependent protease calpain, acting possibly through the modification of the permeability to Ca2+ of the plasma membrane. The purification step by RP-HPLC suggests that effective compound(s), differing from the main biophenols known to be present in the olive pomace extract, could be responsible for this effect. Our observations suggest that bioactive molecules present in the olive pomace could be potential candidates for therapeutic applications in pathologies characterised by alterations of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis.