title: Cannabidiol: an overview of some chemical and pharmacological aspects. Part I: chemical aspects.
abstract: Over the last few years considerable attention has focused on cannabidiol (CBD), a major non-psychotropic constituent of Cannabis. In Part I of this review we present a condensed survey of the chemistry of CBD; in Part II, to be published later, we shall discuss the anti-convulsive, anti-anxiety, anti-psychotic, anti-nausea and anti-rheumatoid arthritic properties of CBD. CBD does not bind to the known cannabinoid receptors and its mechanism of action is yet unknown. In Part II we shall also present evidence that it is conceivable that, in part at least, its effects are due to its recently discovered inhibition of anandamide uptake and hydrolysis and to its anti-oxidative effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products, Medical Faculty, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ein Kerem Campus, 91120, Jerusalem, Israel. mechou@cc.huji.ac.il
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mechoulam
authors.forename: Lumír
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hanus
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002185:Cannabidiol / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002188:Cannabis / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D002185:Cannabidiol