Faculty Collaboration Database

Naturally occurring and related synthetic cannabinoids and their potential therapeutic applications. Recent Pat CNS Drug Discov 2009 Jun;4(2):112-36

Date

06/13/2009

Pubmed ID

19519560

DOI

10.2174/157488909788453031

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-68849093152 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   37 Citations

Abstract

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 MA

Author

Abir El-Alfy PhD Assistant Dean, Professor in the School of Pharmacy Administration department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Animals
Appetite Stimulants
Cannabinoids
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cardiovascular System
Drug Discovery
Humans
Psychotropic Drugs
Receptors, Cannabinoid
Structure-Activity Relationship