Extra Virgin Olive Oil's Main Components' Antioxidant Activity and in Silico Effect on AKT1

The study compared the chemical composition of various olive oils from the northern Algerian province of Bejaia. The research focused on the antioxidant activities of the oil's main constituents and their ability to inhibit the AKT1 protein, which is implicated in the development of colorectal cancer. The findings revealed that all of the examined oils fell within the extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) category and exhibited a high oleic acid content, particularly for samples from wild olives. These oils include high amount of ligstroside and oleocanthal, two important phenolic compounds. Wild olive oils stand out from cultivated ones due to their higher bitterness index. In addition, these oils have the highest concentrations of α-tocopherols and the best oxidative stability. Olive oil extracts demonstrated their antioxidant properties by neutralizing DPPH and ABTS radicals and converting ferric ions (Fe³⁺) to ferrous ions (Fe²⁺) for FRAP assay. Molecular docking was applied to assess the interaction between the main compounds identified in the analyzed olive oils and the human AKT1 protein, which is involved in the genesis of colorectal cancer. The findings revealed that lutein, oleuropein aglycone, and ligstroside aglycone had the highest binding affinity for the AKT1 protein. The present study could provide the theoretical foundation for further research on the interaction between AKT1 protein and EVOO compounds.