Use of the Irritating Principal Oleocanthal in Olive Oil, as Well as Structurally and Functionally Similar Compounds

Abstract

The invention provides methods of synthesizing the purified enantiomers of oleocanthal. The invention further provides methods of using oleocanthals in various formulations including, food additives; pharmaceuticals; cosmetics; animal repellants; and discovery tools for mammalian irritation receptor genes, gene products, alleles, splice variants, alternate transcripts and the like.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a patient with an inflammatory disorder comprising administering to a patient with an inflammatory disorder an effective amount of a composition comprising a compound of the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein: 
         R1 and R4 are independently H or —OR5; 
         R2 and R3 are independently CHO or COOR5; 
         R5 is a H, C 1 -C 5  alkyl, or a glycoside; 
         X is O, NH or CH 2 ; 
         Y is C═CHCH 3  or CH—COOR5; 
         Z is C═O or CH—OR5; 
         A is CH 2  or CH—COOR5; 
         wherein said composition alleviates inflammation in said patient.