The Mediterranean diet has long been recognized for its sweeping benefits on human health and longevity. Yet, the core element driving its effect remained shrouded. Hydroxytyrosol (HT), a colossal giant of the myriad components found in olive oil, is at the heart of the Mediterranean diet, which encapsulates the essence of olive oil’s power to combat heart disease. Increasing scientific evidence supports HT's health benefits involving antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and neuroprotective effects. However, it is not just an array of health benefits that mark HT’s importance of HT but also its extraordinary properties, including good water solubility, fat solubility and thermal stability. Throughout this review, we dive deep into the origins, characteristics, various health benefits and clinical studies of HT, underscore its remarkable ability and potential use in market applications such as food preservatives, nutritional supplements and skincare products. This review contributes insightful data and encourages further research into HT's underlying mechanisms of effect and its beneficial influence on human health. As we unravel more about HT’s secrets, it is possible that we will be able to harness its potential further, turning the tide on an array of health challenges.

Ribonucleotide reductase M2 (RRM2) is a small subunit in ribonucleotide reductases, which participate in nucleotide metabolism and catalyze the conversion of nucleotides to deoxynucleotides, maintaining the dNTP pools for DNA biosynthesis, repair, and replication. RRM2 performs a critical role in the malignant biological behaviors of cancers. The structure, regulation, and function of RRM2 and its inhibitors were discussed. RRM2 gene can produce two transcripts encoding the same ORF. RRM2 expression is regulated at multiple levels during the processes from transcription to translation. Moreover, this gene is associated with resistance, regulated cell death, and tumor immunity. In order to develop and design inhibitors of RRM2, appropriate strategies can be adopted based on different mechanisms. Thus, a greater appreciation of the characteristics of RRM2 is a benefit for understanding tumorigenesis, resistance in cancer, and tumor microenvironment. Moreover, RRM2-targeted therapy will be more attention in future therapeutic approaches for enhancement of treatment effects and amelioration of the dismal prognosis.