title: Endocannabinoids, related compounds and their metabolic routes.
abstract: Endocannabinoids are lipid mediators able to bind to and activate cannabinoid receptors, the primary molecular targets responsible for the pharmacological effects of the Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol. These bioactive lipids belong mainly to two classes of compounds: N-acylethanolamines and acylesters, being N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), respectively, their main representatives. During the last twenty years, an ever growing number of fatty acid derivatives (endocannabinoids and endocannabinoid-like compounds) have been discovered and their activities biological is the subject of intense investigations. Here, the most recent advances, from a therapeutic point of view, on endocannabinoids, related compounds, and their metabolic routes will be reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine & Surgery, Tor Vergata University of Rome, 00133 Rome, Italy. filomena.fezza@uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fezza
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine & Surgery, Tor Vergata University of Rome, 00133 Rome, Italy. bari@med.uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bari
authors.affiliation: Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Foro Italico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy. rit.flo@libero.it.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Florio
authors.affiliation: Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 80078 Pozzuoli (NA), Italy. emanuelatalamonti.86@libero.it.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Talamonti
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine & Surgery, Tor Vergata University of Rome, 00133 Rome, Italy. monica.feole@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feole
authors.affiliation: European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143 Rome, Italy. m.maccarrone@unicampus.it.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maccarrone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000378:metabolism; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005989:Glycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D004983:Ethanolamines; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005989:Glycerides; C022203:N-acylethanolamines; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D013759:Dronabinol; C094503:glyceryl 2-arachidonate; C078814:anandamide