Raphaël Mechoulam's latest discovery is more potent than CBD and THC

At the end of last year, Raphael Mechoulam announced the creation of the methyl ester of cannabidiolic acid (EPM301), a synthetic cannabinoid more potent than the THC or CBD. After several months of testing, researchers have discovered that this new compound could be a powerful treatment for nausea, anxiety, and inflammatory disorders.

EPM301, developed and patented by Professor Mechoulam and a team of researchers from the American biotechnology company EPM, is a synthetic version of a natural acid found in the Cannabis plant. In addition to cannabis compounds like THC, the CBD and terpenes, Fresh cannabis plants contain a variety of acids, such as THCa or CBDa. These acids are much more potent than their more well-known counterparts, but are also highly unstable.

For years, this instability has prevented researchers from successfully isolating these acids from living plants and using them for medical purposes. Last September, the Prof. Mechoulam and EPM announced that they have found a way to modify these acids to make them stable. To accomplish this feat, the researchers used a process called esterification, in which two separate chemicals combine to form a stable compound called an ester.

«EPM has developed a method for working with the original substances of cannabis,» explained Prof. Mechoulam. «So, while everyone is discussing THC and CBD, these cannabinoids are actually a secondary substance; they only appear later in the plant. Originally, there is an acid that appears in the plant, and these acids are these mysterious worlds of compounds that are much more powerful than the cannabinoids. »

Preliminary studies have shown that EPM301 can effectively suppress anxiety and nausea without causing negative side effects. These results suggest that the new compound could be used to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea or disorders such as psoriasis or inflammatory bowel disease.

«We have a great need for new medicines for several diseases, and some of the available medicines can be quite good but cause side effects,» said Prof. Mechoulam. «We currently have two groups of compounds that need to be replaced: steroids and opioids. We believe that cannabis has the ability to partially replace these substances.»