A brief history of cannabinoid and endocannabinoid pharmacology as inspired by the work of British scientists.
British scientists have played a leading role in the long history of cannabinoid and endocannabinoid research. Such research has progressed from the first crucial evaluation of the medicinal properties of Cannabis sativa in the Western world to pioneering studies of the chemical constituents of this plant, the development of in vitro biological assays to study cannabinoids, the identification of the mechanism of action of cannabinoids, the discovery of endocannabinoids and the assessment of their therapeutic implications. Stemming from the many innovative ideas and achievements of these researchers, I provide a personal view of where these studies have led us thus far and where they are likely to take us in the future.
Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, Comprensorio Olivetti, Fabbr. 70, 80078 Pozzuoli (NA) Italy. vdimarzo@icmib.na.cnr.it
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D000818:Animals; D001669:Biochemical Phenomena; D001671:Biochemistry; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010600:Pharmacology; D012106:Research; D006113:United Kingdom
D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D002186:Cannabinoids; D063388:Endocannabinoids