Cannabinoid
Cannabinoids (pronounced /ˈkænəbɪnɔɪdz/,
KA-nə-bi-noydz)
are
a
group
of
terpenophenolic compounds present in Can-
nabis (Cannabis sativa L). The broader defini-
tion of cannabinoids refers to a group of sub-
stances that are structurally related to tet-
rahydrocannabinol (THC) or that bind to can-
nabinoid receptors. The chemical definition
encompasses a variety of distinct chemical
classes: the classical cannabinoids structur-
ally related to THC, the nonclassical can-
nabinoids,
the
aminoalkylindoles,
the
eicosanoids related to the endocannabinoids,
1,5-diarylpyrazoles, quinolines and arylsulph-
onamides and additional compounds that do
not fall into these standard classes but bind
to cannabinoid receptors.[1] The term can-
nabinoids also refers to a unique group of
secondary metabolites found in the cannabis
plant, which are responsible for the plant’s
peculiar pharmacological effects. Currently,
there are three general types of cannabin-
oids: phytocannabinoids occur uniquely in
the cannabis plant; endogenous cannabinoids
are produced in the bodies of humans and
other animals; and synthetic cannabinoids
are similar
compounds produced
in a
laboratory.
Cannabinoid receptors
Before the 1980s, it was often speculated
that cannabinoids produced their physiologic-
al and behavioral effects via nonspecific in-
teraction with cell membranes, instead of in-
teracting with specific membrane-bound re-
ceptors. The discovery of the first cannabin-
oid receptors in the 1980s helped to resolve
this debate. These receptors are common in
animals, and have been found in mammals,
birds, fish, and reptiles. There are currently
two known types of cannabinoid receptors,
termed CB1 and CB2, with mounting evid-
ence of more[2].
• CB1 receptors are found primarily in the
brain, specifically in the basal ganglia and
in the limbic system, including the
hippocampus. They are also found in the
cerebellum and in both male and female
reproductive systems. CB1 receptors are
essentially absent in the medulla
oblongata, the part