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Review
. 2014 Oct 24;19(11):17078-106.
doi: 10.3390/molecules191117078.

Endocannabinoids, related compounds and their metabolic routes

Filomena Fezza  1 , Monica Bari  2 , Rita Florio  3 , Emanuela Talamonti  4 , Monica Feole  5 , Mauro Maccarrone  6
Affiliations
Review

Endocannabinoids, related compounds and their metabolic routes

Filomena Fezza et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Endocannabinoids are lipid mediators able to bind to and activate cannabinoid receptors, the primary molecular targets responsible for the pharmacological effects of the Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol. These bioactive lipids belong mainly to two classes of compounds: N-acylethanolamines and acylesters, being N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), respectively, their main representatives. During the last twenty years, an ever growing number of fatty acid derivatives (endocannabinoids and endocannabinoid-like compounds) have been discovered and their activities biological is the subject of intense investigations. Here, the most recent advances, from a therapeutic point of view, on endocannabinoids, related compounds, and their metabolic routes will be reviewed.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Chemical structures of THC and two prominent endocannabinoids.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Chemical structures of some endocannabinoid-like molecules.
Scheme 1
Scheme 1
The alternative biosynthetic and degradative pathways of AEA and congeners.
Scheme 2
Scheme 2
The alternative biosynthetic and degradative pathways of 2-AG and congeners.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Chemical structures of the main products of oxidative metabolism of AEA and 2-AG.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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