Tetrahydrocannabinol psychotropic activity

The active principle of Salvia divinorum, salvinorin A, is derived from the leaves of the plant. Chemically, salvinorin A is a neoclerodane diterpene, one of a group of nitrogen-containing terpene compounds that have psychotropic properties. Two other such compounds are tetrahydrocannabinol and absinthe. Purified salvinorin A can be obtained from an ether extract of the leaves, which is then concentrated by chromatography and repeated crystallization. 

A >tetrahydrocannabinol is one of the active principles of cannabis (constituent of marijuana or hashish from Cannabis sativa) with lower psychoactivity than A -tetrahydrocannabinol. It is a cannabinoid receptor agonist and has (euphoric) sedative and mild PSYCHOTROPIC (hallucinogenic) properties, and ANTIEMETIC activity. A >tetrahydrocannabinol (A -tetrahydrocannabinol) is an active cannabinoid. It is a constituent of marijuana. The active (6aR,10aR)-(-)-trans-form = dronabinol. It is a CANNABINOID RECEPTOR AGONIST and has (euphoric) SEDATIVE and mild PSYCHOTROPIC (hallucinogenic) properties, and ANTIEMETIC activity. 

The psychotropic effects of smoking cannabis are due to the pharmacological action of the active constituent (-)-4 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) within the CNS. In the airways, THC has been shown to cause both bronchodilation and bronchoconstric-tion in non-diseased subjects and asthmatic patients (Tashkin et al. 1977). However, an early report suggested that THC may have antitussive properties in an experimental model of cough induced by mechanical irritation of the tracheal mucosal surface in cats (Gordon et al. 1976). The discovery of cannabinoid (CB) receptors has renewed interest in the possible antitussive efficacy of CBs. 

Of similar activity as 4 - is / -tetrahydrocannabinol, although it occurs in hemp only in small amounts. Oral application of hashish generates a metabolite, hydroxylated at C-11, which shows as well psychotropic effects, equivalent to those of THC. 

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