Cannabinoids
The marijuana plant (Cannabis sativa) and preparations derived from it have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. The human body contains receptors, known as cannabinoid receptors, which interact with compounds known as "cannabinoids" which are found in cannabis. Endogenous activators of these receptors also exist and are known as "endocannabinoids". The cannabinoid receptors are found in the nervous system and immune system. Cannabinoid receptor pharmacology is the subject of intense academic and commercial research effort. In Aberdeen, we are making novel compounds that selectively tune the 'endocannabinoid' system, thereby heralding a new generation of lead compounds with potential for the treatment of pain, inflammation, osteoporosis, obesity and mental illness.
Structures of agonists and antagonists of the cannabinoid receptor and the distribution of the one of the cannabinoid receptors (CB1) in the rodent brain (Ross)