The effect of olive oil phenolic content and pattern on the physical properties and stability of olive oil
mayonnaise-like emulsions has been investigated. Mayonnaises were formulated with either naturally
phenolic-rich extra virgin olive oils or purified olive oil artificially enriched with a phenolic-rich olive
extract and pure oleuropein. Mayonnaises were characterized by droplet size distribution, microstructure,
textural properties and flow behaviour. The addition of phenolic extracts significantly affected
the dispersion degree of the corresponding mayonnaise-like emulsions, their microstructure and physical
stability especially in the systems prepared with purified olive oil treated with pure oleuropein and the
highest olive phenolic extract concentration. The viscosity and back-extrusion analyses evidenced that
the systems characterized by a relatively high content of phenolics, either natural or by addition, presented
lower yield stress and viscosity indices and were easier to deform and to break. This study confirms
the main role of olive phenolic compounds, and in particular that of oleuropein, in the
dispersion state, and physical properties of emulsions with main effects on their quality and stability.