title: The pharmacology of palmitoylethanolamide and first data on the therapeutic efficacy of some of its new formulations.
abstract: Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) has emerged as a potential nutraceutical, because this compound is naturally produced in many plant and animal food sources, as well as in cells and tissues of mammals, and endowed with important neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions. Several efforts have been made to identify the molecular mechanism of action of PEA and explain its multiple effects both in the central and the peripheral nervous system. Here, we provide an overview of the pharmacology, efficacy and safety of PEA in neurodegenerative disorders, pain perception and inflammatory diseases. The current knowledge of new formulations of PEA with smaller particle size (i.e. micronized and ultra-micronized) when given alone or in combination with antioxidant flavonoids (i.e. luteolin) and stilbenes (i.e. polydatin) is also reviewed.
  
  
  
  This article is part of a themed section on Principles of Pharmacological Research of Nutraceuticals. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.11/issuetoc.
authors.affiliation: Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pozzuoli (NA), Italy.|Epitech Group S.p.A., Saccolongo (PD), Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petrosino
authors.affiliation: Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pozzuoli (NA), Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Marzo
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000178:diet therapy; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D010169:Palmitic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010316:Particle Size
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004983:Ethanolamines; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010169:Palmitic Acids; C005958:palmidrol