Olivetol, also known as 5-pentylresorcino1 or 5-pentyl-1,3-benzenediol, is an organic compound found in certain species of lichen; it is also a precursor in various syntheses of tetrahydrocannabino1.
Olivetol is a member of the class of resorcino1s that is resorcino1 in which the hydrogen at position 5 is replaced by a pentyl group. It has a role as a lichen metabolite.
It is believed that Olivetol acts as a competitive inhibitor of the canabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. Due to its smaller size and its lack of more functional groups, it is believed that Olivetol binds more tightly and/or more aggressively to the canabinoid receptors CB1 and/or CB2 and has a much lower dissociation constant, allowing it to stay in the active site of the CB receptors for a longer period of time while not activating the receptor, thereby not causing the change in GABA release that is believed to be the mechanism of THC's psychotropic effects.
The effects of Olivetol on a person who has ingested THC will include but are not limited to clarity of mind, improved vision, increased ability to focus, improved motor skills, and reduction in any other symptoms of THC consumption. A number of real-life, non-clinical trials have been performed by volunteers, to test the effects of the consumption of embodiments of the present invention, the conditions and results of which are described as follows. All tests were performed in "real life," rather than clinical conditions. Various methods of consumption of canabis were used, such as consumption of edibles, inhalation of canabis smoke, or inhalation of vapor, depending upon the volunteer's preference. Some subjects reported their pre-consumption mood, pain level, etc., as well as their level of experience with consumption of canabis.
After sufficient exposure to canabis, each subject indicated when their euphoria or "high" had reached a high level or a peak. Then, the subject took one or more oral doses of an embodiment of the present invention, containing 30 mg of Olivetol combined with edible oil in a "softgel" pill. A timer was started and the subject then reported when they felt an awareness of a decrease or reduction in their euphoria or other canabis effects, as well as their subjective feelings, mood, pain level or other observations, until they self-reported that their canabis effects were concluded, hi the majority of cases, subjects noticed a reduction in the effects of canabis consumption between four to ten minutes, and most commonly six to seven minutes, after talcing a dose of an embodiment of the present invention. Most subjects reported some improved level of mental clarity. However, most subjects also reported that the beneficial effects of their canabis consumption, such as improved mood or pain reduction, remained even after the euphoric feeling and other physical effects associated with canabis use declined following their use of a dose or two of an embodiment of the present invention.
Olivetol can be consumed following THC ingestion to significantly reduce the psychotropic and other effects of THC, and it is believed that it can be consumed prior to THC ingestion, to dampen these psychotropic and other effects. The range for an effective dose of Olivetol is 8mg to lOOmg, with the preferred range between 30mg and 60mg. However, for certain individuals, larger or smaller doses may be effective, or necessary, suggesting an effective dose range of Olivetol between 4mg to 200mg.
