Abstract
Cannabinoids, psychoactive components in marijuana, bind to G protein-coupled cannabinoid receptors expressed in the brain and other tissues, and exert a variety of neural and peripheral actions. Two arachidonic acid derivatives, anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamine) and 2-arachi-donoylglycerol, are known to be endogenous ligands of cannabinoid receptors and are collectively referred to as endocannabinoids. Both the endocannabinoids are enzymatically formed from membrane glycerophospholipid upon cellular stimuli, and then rapidly degraded. The compounds exhibit various biological activities through cannabinoid receptors including reduction of cyclic AMP, inhibition of voltage-gated calcium channels and cannabimimetic behavioral activities. The'endocannabinoid system' comprising endocannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors and enzymes involved in the biosynthesis and degradation of endocannabinoids currently receives considerable attention as promising therapeutic targets.
