title: Endocannabinoids.
abstract: The background knowledge leading to the isolation and identification of anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol, the principal endocannabinoids is described. The structure-activity relationships of these lipid derivatives are summarized. Selected biochemical and pharmacological topics in this field are discussed, the main ones being levels of endocannabinoids in unstimulated tissue and cells, biosynthesis, release and inactivation of endocannabinoids, the effects of 'entourage' compounds on the activities of anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol, their signaling mechanisms and effects in animals.
authors.affiliation: Hebrew University, Medical Faculty, Jerusalem, Israel. mechou@yam-suff.cc.huji.ac.il
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mechoulam
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fride
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Marzo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002188:Cannabis / Q000737:chemistry; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005989:Glycerides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D002186:Cannabinoids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005989:Glycerides; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D013759:Dronabinol; C094503:glyceryl 2-arachidonate; C078814:anandamide