Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

Cannabis: pharmacology and toxicology in animals and humans

Cannabis: pharmacology and toxicology in animals and humans Cannabis is one of the most widely used drugs throughout the world. The psychoactive constituent of cannabis, δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (δ9‐THC), produces a myriad of pharmacological effects in animals and humans. For many decades, the mechanism of action of cannabinoids, compounds which are structurally similar to δ9‐THC, was unknown. Tremendous progress has been made recently in characterizing cannabinoid receptors both centrally and peripherally and in studying the role of second messenger systems at the cellular level. Furthermore, an endogenous ligand, anandamide, for the cannabinoid receptor has been identified. Anandamide is a fatty‐acid derived compound that possesses pharmacological properties similar to δ9‐THC. The production of complex behavioral events by cannabinoids is probably mediated by specific cannabinoid receptors and interactions with other neurochemical systems. Cannabis also has great therapeutic potential and has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes. However, cannabinoid‐derived drugs on the market today lack specificity and produce many unpleasant side effects, thus limiting therapeutic usefulness. The advent of highly potent analogs and a specific antagonist may make possible the development of compounds that lack undesirable side effects. The advancements in the field of cannabinoid pharmacology should facilitate our understanding of the physiological role of endogenous cannabinoids. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Addiction Wiley

Cannabis: pharmacology and toxicology in animals and humans

ADAMS, IRMA B.; MARTIN, BILLY R.
Addiction , Volume 91 (11) – Nov 1, 1996
Download PDF
31 pages

Loading next page...
 
/lp/wiley/cannabis-pharmacology-and-toxicology-in-animals-and-humans-rftlytf6Sw

References (222)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
ISSN
0965-2140
eISSN
1360-0443
DOI
10.1046/j.1360-0443.1996.911115852.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Cannabis is one of the most widely used drugs throughout the world. The psychoactive constituent of cannabis, δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (δ9‐THC), produces a myriad of pharmacological effects in animals and humans. For many decades, the mechanism of action of cannabinoids, compounds which are structurally similar to δ9‐THC, was unknown. Tremendous progress has been made recently in characterizing cannabinoid receptors both centrally and peripherally and in studying the role of second messenger systems at the cellular level. Furthermore, an endogenous ligand, anandamide, for the cannabinoid receptor has been identified. Anandamide is a fatty‐acid derived compound that possesses pharmacological properties similar to δ9‐THC. The production of complex behavioral events by cannabinoids is probably mediated by specific cannabinoid receptors and interactions with other neurochemical systems. Cannabis also has great therapeutic potential and has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes. However, cannabinoid‐derived drugs on the market today lack specificity and produce many unpleasant side effects, thus limiting therapeutic usefulness. The advent of highly potent analogs and a specific antagonist may make possible the development of compounds that lack undesirable side effects. The advancements in the field of cannabinoid pharmacology should facilitate our understanding of the physiological role of endogenous cannabinoids.

Journal

Addiction – Wiley

Published: Nov 1, 1996

There are no references for this article.