Plant cannabinoids: a neglected pharmacological treasure trove.
Most of the cannabinoids in Cannabis sativa L. have not been fully evaluated for their pharmacological activity. A publication in this issue presents evidence that a plant cannabinoid, Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabivarin is a potent antagonist of anandamide, a major endogenous cannabinoid. It seems possible that many of the non-psychoactive constituents of this plant will be of biological interest.
Mechoulam
Raphael
R
Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Ein Kerem Campus, Jerusalem 91120, Israel. mechou@cc.huji.ac.il
D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002188:Cannabis / Q000737:chemistry*; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D002186:Cannabinoids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2; C078814:anandamide