Xorialyc® (Olive Leaf Extract)

Olea europaea
Evidence Level
Preliminary
2 Clinical Trials
6 Documented Benefits
1/5 Evidence Score

Xorialyc® is an olive leaf extract sold by Pharmactive Biotech Products (Spain) and marketed for skin comfort and skin quality. It is standardised to olive leaf polyphenols including luteolin, quercetin and ortho-diphenols. The reported effects on inflammatory signalling (NF-κB, COX-2, PGE₂) come from laboratory experiments in cultured cells, not from people taking capsules. Important limitation: none of the research cited on this page was done in people, and none of it tested swallowing this ingredient. The published work is one study of a topical olive leaf gel applied to wounds in rats, plus two cell-culture experiments. The percentage figures used in Xorialyc marketing (74% less redness, 76% less itching, 72% less tightness, about 72% better hydration, 80% noticing a visible effect) come from an unpublished 60-day in-house survey of 50 adults aged 40 to 60 run by the manufacturer, with no placebo group and no peer review, so they are self-reported impressions rather than measured, controlled results.

Studied Dose 300 mg/day (the amount used in the manufacturer's own consumer survey; not validated in any published trial)
Active Compound Olive leaf polyphenols (luteolin, quercetin, ortho-diphenols, oleuropein)

Benefits

Skin Redness Reduction

The 74% redness figure comes from an unpublished in-house survey run by the manufacturer in 50 adults aged 40 to 60 over 60 days at 300 mg a day. Everyone knew they were taking the product, there was no placebo group and the results have never been peer reviewed, so the number cannot show the supplement caused the change. None of the published research cited here tested oral olive leaf extract for skin redness in people, and this is not a treatment for rosacea or any other skin condition.

Itching Reduction

The 76% itching figure comes from the same unpublished manufacturer survey, which had no placebo or comparison group. The only cited research touching itch-related inflammatory signalling is a test-tube study of luteolin in cultured human skin cells. This is not a treatment for eczema or any diagnosed skin disease.

Skin Tightness Reduction

The 72% figure for a tight skin feeling comes from the same unpublished manufacturer survey of 50 people, who rated their own comfort with nothing to compare against. No published study has measured this in people taking the extract by mouth.

Hydration and Skin Quality (manufacturer survey only)

Self-reported improvements in skin hydration and overall skin quality were recorded in the manufacturer's own 60-day survey, which had no placebo group. No published trial has measured skin hydration in people taking this extract by mouth.

User Satisfaction Reported in the Manufacturer's Survey

In the manufacturer's unpublished survey, 80% of the 50 participants said they noticed a visible effect and 78% said they would recommend it. Satisfaction ratings from an unblinded survey with no placebo group are opinions, not clinical findings.

Inflammatory Pathway Effects Seen in Cell Cultures

In cell-culture experiments, olive leaf compounds reduced NF-κB activation and related inflammatory signalling, and olive polyphenols show antioxidant activity in the lab. These are findings in dishes of isolated skin cells. They have not been shown to produce any measured change in a person taking the capsule.

Mechanism of action

1

NF-κB Pathway Inhibition

NF-κB is a control switch for inflammatory genes. In a 2014 laboratory study, the flavonoid luteolin blocked NF-κB activation in cultured human skin cells. That work was done in a dish using an isolated compound, not in people taking this supplement.

2

COX-2 Inhibition

COX-2 is an enzyme that makes inflammatory prostaglandins. Olive polyphenols have been reported to lower COX-2 activity in laboratory models, but none of the studies cited here measured COX-2 in anyone taking this extract, and it should not be thought of as working like an anti-inflammatory drug.

3

PGE₂ Reduction

Prostaglandin E2 is one of the signals involved in inflammatory skin reactions. No study cited on this page measured prostaglandin E2 in people taking Xorialyc, so this is a proposed mechanism rather than a demonstrated effect.

4

Luteolin and Quercetin Bioactivity

Luteolin and quercetin are flavonoids with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity in laboratory studies, and this extract is standardised to contain them. Whether enough of them reaches the skin after a capsule is swallowed has not been tested in any research cited here.

5

Ortho-Diphenol Antioxidant Activity

Ortho-diphenols such as hydroxytyrosol-type compounds are strong antioxidants in laboratory tests. In a 2025 cell-culture study, oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol and verbascoside together reduced markers of UV damage in cultured skin cells. That was a three-compound combination applied directly to cells, not this product taken by mouth, so it does not show protection of anyone's skin.

Clinical trials

1
Xorialyc 60-Day Manufacturer Consumer Survey (unpublished, no placebo group)

A 60-day in-house consumer survey of Xorialyc at 300 mg a day in 50 adults aged 40 to 60, run by the company that sells the ingredient. It is not published in a peer-reviewed journal, is not indexed on PubMed, and had no placebo or comparison group.

50 adults aged 40 to 60, all of whom took the product; there was no untreated or placebo comparison group.

Participants self-reported 74% less redness, 76% less itching, 72% less skin tightness and about 72% better hydration and skin quality, with 80% saying they saw a visible effect and 78% saying they would recommend it. Because everyone knew they were taking the product and there was no placebo group, these numbers cannot separate the supplement from expectation, seasonal skin changes and normal day-to-day variation.

2
Olive Polyphenol Laboratory Work (cell cultures and one rat study)

Laboratory studies of olive polyphenols and inflammatory signalling, mainly NF-κB. These are not clinical trials, and COX-2 and prostaglandin E2 were not measured in any human study cited here.

Cultured human skin cells, plus one study of a topical olive leaf gel applied to wounds in rats. No human studies.

Luteolin reduced NF-κB activation and inflammatory messengers in cultured human skin cells, and an olive leaf gel rubbed onto wounds in rats produced less inflammation and better organised collagen than untreated wounds. These are findings in cells and rodents. They do not show that swallowing an olive leaf capsule changes anything about a person's skin.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

No published human trial of this branded extract exists, so there is no trial safety data; olive leaf supplements in general are usually reported as well tolerated.
Mild GI distress.
Allergic reactions to olive rare.
Bitter taste characteristic of olive polyphenols (minimal in capsule).

Important Drug interactions

Antihypertensives — modest additive BP effects.
Anticoagulants — modest effects.
Diabetes medications — modest hypoglycemic effects.
Pregnancy/lactation — culinary olive use safe; concentrated extract supplementation limited safety data; consult.
Photosensitizing medications — generally non-interactive.

Frequently asked questions about Xorialyc® (Olive Leaf Extract)

What is Xorialyc?

Xorialyc® is an olive leaf extract sold by Pharmactive Biotech Products (Spain) and marketed for skin comfort and skin quality. It is standardised to olive leaf polyphenols including luteolin, quercetin and ortho-diphenols.

What is Xorialyc used for?

Xorialyc is researched primarily for Hair, Skin & Nails. The 74% redness figure comes from an unpublished in-house survey run by the manufacturer in 50 adults aged 40 to 60 over 60 days at 300 mg a day.

What is the recommended dosage of Xorialyc?

The clinically studied dose is 300 mg/day (the amount used in the manufacturer's own consumer survey; not validated in any published trial) Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Xorialyc safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, Xorialyc is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: No published human trial of this branded extract exists, so there is no trial safety data; olive leaf supplements in general are usually reported as well tolerated. Mild GI distress. It may also interact with some medications. Xorialyc is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Xorialyc interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Antihypertensives — modest additive BP effects. Anticoagulants — modest effects. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Xorialyc?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Xorialyc as Preliminary (1 out of 5). It is backed by 2 clinical trials and 3 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(3 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Torrecillas-Baena B, Camacho-Cardenosa M, Carmona-Luque MD, Dorado G, Berenguer-Pérez M, Quesada-Gómez JM, Gálvez-Moreno MÁ, Casado-Díaz A Comparative Study of the Efficacy of EHO-85, a Hydrogel Containing Olive Tree (Olea europaea) Leaf Extract, in Skin Wound Healing International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2023;24(17):13328. doi: 10.3390/ijms241713328.PubMedUsed to support: A hydrogel containing olive leaf extract was applied directly to skin wounds in rats; treated wounds showed less inflammation and better organised collagen than controls. This tests a gel rubbed on rat skin, not a capsule swallowed by a person, so it supports no claim about taking olive leaf extract by mouth and no claim about the Xorialyc brand.
  2. Weng Z, Patel AB, Vasiadi M, Therianou A, Theoharides TC Luteolin inhibits human keratinocyte activation and decreases NF-κB induction that is increased in psoriatic skin PLoS ONE. 2014;9(2):e90739. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090739.PubMedUsed to support: Shows that luteolin — a key flavonoid in Xorialyc's olive leaf standardisation — significantly inhibits TNF-stimulated NF-κB nuclear translocation, IL-6, IL-8, and VEGF release in human keratinocytes, and reduces RELA gene expression that is elevated in psoriatic skin. This is a test-tube study of one isolated flavonoid in cultured cells, with no people involved and no Xorialyc tested. It suggests a possible mechanism only and says nothing about redness or itching in someone taking a capsule.
  3. Wang J, Yuan M, Li Q, Shen C, Zhang X, Zhu C, Cen Q Combined protection against UVB-induced photoaging by oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, and verbascoside through modulation of inflammation, oxidative stress, and collagen homeostasis Scientific Reports. 2025;15(1):41008. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-24845-4.PubMedUsed to support: Demonstrates that the combination of oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, and verbascoside — all present in Olea europaea extracts — suppresses UVB-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, collagen degradation, and MMP expression in human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes via Nrf2 upregulation. Three compounds found in olive extracts were applied together directly to cultured skin cells. It is a cell-culture study of a three-compound combination, not of Xorialyc and not in people, so it cannot support claims about skin tightness or hydration.