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Phytocannabinoids beyond the Cannabis plant – do they exist?

  1. Jürg Gertsch1,*,
  2. Roger G Pertwee2,
  3. Vincenzo Di Marzo3

Article first published online: 11 MAR 2010

DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.00745.x

Issue

British Journal of Pharmacology

British Journal of Pharmacology

Special Issue: Themed Issue: Cannabinoids: Guest Editors: Steve Alexander, Ken Mackie and Ruth Ross

Volume 160, Issue 3, pages 523–529, June 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Gertsch, J., Pertwee, R. G. and Di Marzo, V. (2010), Phytocannabinoids beyond the Cannabis plant – do they exist?. British Journal of Pharmacology, 160: 523–529. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.00745.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland,

  2. 2

    School of Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK, and

  3. 3

    Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pozzuoli, NA, Italy

*Jürg Gertsch, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Bühlstrasse 28, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland. E-mail: gertsch@mci.unibe.ch

  1. The molecular receptor nomenclature used throughout this commentary conforms to the BJP's Guide to Receptors and Channels (†).

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 19 MAY 2010
  2. Article first published online: 11 MAR 2010
  3. Received 12 January 2010; revised 18 February 2010; accepted 23 February 2010

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Keywords:

  • phytocannabinoid;
  • cannabinoid;
  • plant natural products;
  • Cannabis;
  • endocannabinoid system

It is intriguing that during human cultural evolution man has detected plant natural products that appear to target key protein receptors of important physiological systems rather selectively. Plants containing such secondary metabolites usually belong to unique chemotaxa, induce potent pharmacological effects and have typically been used for recreational and medicinal purposes or as poisons. Cannabis sativa L. has a long history as a medicinal plant and was fundamental in the discovery of the endocannabinoid system. The major psychoactive Cannabis constituent Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) potently activates the G-protein-coupled cannabinoid receptor CB1 and also modulates the cannabinoid receptor CB2. In the last few years, several other non-cannabinoid plant constituents have been reported to bind to and functionally interact with CB receptors. Moreover, certain plant natural products, from both Cannabis and other plants, also target other proteins of the endocannabinoid system, such as hydrolytic enzymes that control endocannabinoid levels. In this commentary we summarize and critically discuss recent findings.

This article is part of a themed issue on Cannabinoids. To view the editorial for this themed issue visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.00831.x

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