Towards Cannabinoid Drugs

Brettler Medical Research Center. Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem 91 120, Israel 

Recent approaches to the biochemical basis of cannabimimetic action 174 

Due to its psychotropic properties, Cannabis sativa was one of the first plants to be used by man, both in social-religious rites and in medicine [1-3]. In ancient times, the distinction between use in religious ceremonies and medical use was blurred. Later, in most countries, the ceremonial rites associated with Cannabis were forgotten or discarded, but the medical use continued for many centuries. In various parts of the world, Cannabis was used in a very wide range of medical conditions. This is not surprising, as the placebo effects of drugs with psychotropic action are particularly strong. However, many of the actions produced by Cannabis are undoubtedly distinct from the placebo effect and in recent years some have been confirmed in animals and in man. In the present survey, we shall try to compare past use with modem data, to present an overview of modem use and developments and to predict future pathways in medicinal chemistry research in this area. 

In the past decade, several reviews on various aspects of these topics have appeared [3-8]. 

The following abbreviations are used in the present review THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) CBD (cannabidiol) CBN (cannabinol) DMH (1,1-dimethylheptyl) SAR (structure-activity relationship) cisplatin (m-diam-minedichloroplatinum(II)) GABA (y-aminobutyric acid) MES (maximal electroshock seizures) PTZ (pentylenetetrazol) AGS (audiogenic seizure) IOP (intraocular pressure). 

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Metchoulam R, Hanus L and Fride E (1998) Towards cannabinoid drugs - revisited. Prog Med Chem 35, 199-243. 

Mechoulam, R., Hanus, L., and Pride, E. (1998) Towards cannabinoid drugs-revisited. Progress Med. Chem. 35 199-243. 

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