Metabolic profile of olive leaves of different cultivars and collection times

[Display omitted] •Summer favor the synthesis of nonpolar compounds in the Manzanilla and Picual cultivar.•Arbequina presented the highest levels of nonpolar compounds, regardless of the season.•The cultivar Manzanilla presented the highest levels of polar compounds in relation to Arbequina and Picual.•The content of phenolic compounds are mainly responsible for the antioxidant potential found in olive leaves. Due to the appreciable amounts of bioactive compounds in olive leaves and the effect of abiotic stresses on their synthesis, this study evaluated the metabolic profile of leaves of olive cultivars (Arbequina, Manzanilla and Picual) collected in four periods of the year (autumn, winter, spring and summer). The determination of the profile of bioactive compounds (phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, carotenoids and chlorophylls) by spectrophotometry and the individual compounds by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrum, as well as antioxidant potential tests were performed. As results it was possible to observe that the leaves of the cultivar Manzanilla presented the highest levels of phenolic compounds and that the leaves collected in the summer presented a number of compounds much more relevant than the others. Thus, it was possible to conclude that the cultivar and the collection season significantly affect the bioactive content and the antioxidant potential of olive leaves.