title: Synthetic cannabinoids: analysis and metabolites.
abstract: Cannabimimetics (commonly referred to as synthetic cannabinoids), a group of compounds encompassing a wide range of chemical structures, have been developed by scientists with the hope of achieving selectivity toward one or the other of the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. The goal was to have compounds that could possess high therapeutic activity without many side effects. However, underground laboratories have used the information generated by the scientific community to develop these compounds for illicit use as marijuana substitutes. This chapter reviews the different classes of these "synthetic cannabinoids" with particular emphasis on the methods used for their identification in the herbal products with which they are mixed and identification of their metabolites in biological specimens.
authors.affiliation: ElSohly Laboratories, Inc., 5 Industrial Park Drive, Oxford, MS 38655, USA; National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA; Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA. Electronic address: melsohly@olemiss.edu.
authors.forename: Mahmoud A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Elsohly
authors.affiliation: ElSohly Laboratories, Inc., 5 Industrial Park Drive, Oxford, MS 38655, USA; National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA.
authors.forename: Waseem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gul
authors.affiliation: National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA; Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, Minia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Amira S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Wanas
authors.affiliation: National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA; Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Radwan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015198:Designer Drugs / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D002186:Cannabinoids; D015198:Designer Drugs; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2
keywords: Analysis; Herbal products; Metabolites; Synthetic cannabinoids