Non-Psychotropic Plant Cannabinoids: New Therapeutic Opportunities from an Ancient Herb
Review Non-psychotropic plant cannabinoids: new therapeutic opportunities from an ancient herb Angelo A. Izzo1,4, Francesca Borrelli1,4, Raffaele Capasso1,4, Vincenzo Di Marzo2,4 and Raphael Mechoulam3 1 Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy 2 Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council, Pozzuoli (NA), Italy 3 Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products, Hebrew University Medical Faculty, Jerusalem, Israel 4 Endocannabinoid Research Group, Italy 9 D -tetrahydrocannabinol binds cannabinoid (CB1 and system’’. With its ability to modulate several physiological CB2) receptors, which are activated by endogenous com- and pathophysiological processes (e.g. neurotransmitter pounds (endocannabinoids) and are involved in a wide range of physiopathological processes (e.g. modulation of neurotransmitter release, regulation of pain percep- Glossary tion, and of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and liver Transient receptor potential (TRP): Transient receptor potential (TRP) is a functions). The well-known psychotropic effects of D9- superfamily of non-selective, ligand-gated cation channels. They can be subdivided in six main subfamilies: the TRPC (‘Canonical’), TRPV (’Vanilloid’), tetrahydrocannabinol, which are mediated by activation TRPM (‘Melastatin’), TRPP (‘Polycystin’), TRPML (‘Mucolipin’) and the TRPA of brain CB1 receptors, have greatly limited its clinical (‘Ankyrin’) group. At least six TRPs (TRPV1, TRPV2, TRPV3, TRPV4, TRPM8 and use. However, the plant Cannabis contains many can- TRPA1) have been shown to be expressed in primary afferent nociceptors, where they act as transducers for thermal, chemical and mechanical stimuli. nabinoids with weak or no psychoactivity that, thera- Many TRPs are activated by natural compounds, such as capsaicin (TRPV1), 9 peutically, might be more promising than D - cannabidiol (TRPV2), incensole acetate (TRPV3), menthol (TRPM8) and tetrahydrocannabinol.
[Show full text]