Cannabinoids

Question 1

What do the following terms mean:
* cannabis
* marijuana
* Cannabis strains (chemovars)

Answer 1

Cannabis = producted derived from Cannabis sativa plant
Marijuana = form of cannabis that contains large abounts of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
Cannabis strains = contain very low or nil amounts of THC –> CBD is main constituent

Question 2

What are the 3 categories of cannabinoids?

Answer 2

1. Phytocannabinoids: derived from plants
2. Endocannabinoids: derived from omega-3 and omega-6 FA
3. Synthetic cannabinoids

Question 3

What are the active constituents of cannabis?

Answer 3

1. THC
2. Cannabidiol (CBD)
3. > 100 other cannabinoids
4. terpenes and terpenoids
5. flavonoids

Question 4

Name 5 terpenes/termpenoids and some effects.

Answer 4

1. b-caryophyllene
2. myrcene
3. Limonene
4. Linalool
5. Humulene

• anxiolytic
• antineoplastic
• antiviral
• antiinflammatory
• antioxidant
• antimicrobial

Question 5

Name 4 flavonoids and 3 effects.

Answer 5

1. Cannaflavins
2. Apigenin
3. Quercitin
4. Catechins

• antioxidant
• antiinflammatory (inhibit PGE2)
• antidepressant

Question 6

Name 3 positive effects of THF (in the correct dose).

Answer 6

• antiinflammatory
• antioxidant
• neuroprotective

Question 7

How does THC mediate its effects?

Answer 7

CB1 receptor: partial agonist
–> neuronal tissue: pre- and postsynaptic
–> extraneuronal tissue: immune system (BM, spllen, thymus, tonsils), heart, lungs. adrenal glands, kidneys, intestines, liver, pancreas, reproductive system

CB2 receptor: partial agonist
–> immune tissue (BM, spleen, thymus, sonsils, T-cells, B-cells, NK-cells, monocytes, mast cells)

–> both regulate release of chemical messangers, modify production of chemokines + cytokines –< change immune function by up- or downregulation of cellular behaviour and migration

Question 8

How does CBD mediate its effects? What are the effects?

Answer 8

TRPV receptor
5HT1A receptor
receptor independent effects
possible antagonisation of THC through modulation of CB receptors

• antiseizure
• analgesia
• anxiolysis
• antiinflammatory
• antioxidant
• antiemetic

Question 9

How may CBD and THC alter other drugs effects?

Answer 9

• affect cyto P-450 enzymes (inhibt some + induce some)
  –> CBD: potent inhibitor of CYP3A4 (benzos, Ca2+ channel blockers, macrolides, anhistamines, cyclosporine)
• may change serum levels of other antiepileptic drugs