Naturally occurring and related synthetic cannabinoids and their potential therapeutic applications. Recent Pat CNS Drug Discov 2009 Jun;4(2):112-36
Date
06/13/2009Pubmed ID
19519560DOI
10.2174/157488909788453031Scopus ID
2-s2.0-68849093152 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 37 CitationsAbstract
Naturally occurring cannabinoids (phytocannabinoids) are biosynthetically related terpenophenolic compounds uniquely produced by the highly variable plant, Cannabis sativa L. Natural and synthetic cannabinoids have been extensively studied since the discovery that the psychotropic effects of cannabis are mainly due to Delta(9)-THC. However, cannabinoids exert pharmacological actions on other biological systems such as the cardiovascular, immune and endocrine systems. Most of these effects have been attributed to the ability of these compounds to interact with the cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors. The FDA approval of Marinol, a product containing synthetic Delta(9)-THC (dronabinol), in 1985 for the control of nausea and vomiting in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, and in 1992 as an appetite stimulant for AIDS patients, has further intensified the research interest in these compounds. This article reviews patents (2003-2007) that describe methods for isolation of cannabinoids from cannabis, chemical and chromatographic methods for their purification, synthesis, and potential therapeutic applications of these compounds.
Author List
Galal AM, Slade D, Gul W, El-Alfy AT, Ferreira D, Elsohly MAAuthor
Abir El-Alfy PhD Assistant Dean, Professor in the School of Pharmacy Administration department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsAppetite Stimulants
Cannabinoids
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cardiovascular System
Drug Discovery
Humans
Psychotropic Drugs
Receptors, Cannabinoid
Structure-Activity Relationship