Cannabinoids - What are Cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are a class of chemical substances which naturally occur in all plants of the cannabis genus (both hemp plants as well as weed plants), but are also present in the bodies of humans and almost all animals. Cannabinoids, which possess a wide array of properties, effect the body through interaction with specific receptors which occur everywhere in the body, but mainly in the brain and the immune system.
The brain and the spinal cord are part of the central nervous system, while the peripheral nervous system contains all the nerves which are located outside the central nervous system. Each person has well over a 100 billion nerve cells (neurons) of which the largest number is found in the brain. These nerve cells facilitate the processing of signals. In addition the brain contains between a thousand and five thousand trillion glial cells (supportive cells).
Receivers and processors
Receptors are located on the outside of cells and, just like antennea, operate as receivers which receive and transfer signals. This means they in fact provide the means of communication between cells and their environment. After a receptor has received a signal the cell transfers this to the right location after which a reaction occurs.
So after binding with a specific receptor for instance certain cannabinoids can effect all kinds of reactions in the body and the stimulation of the immune system.
Of the well over 500 different compounds which are present in cannabis, at least a 100 have been determined as being cannabis specific and have been named cannabinoids. By far the best known compound is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in full), which is mostly known for the psychoactive effect it has. Another very important component is cannabidiol, abbreviated as CBD. This ingredient, which can be found in all CBD Oil products from Cibiday, is being studied ever more by scientists as of late.
Subdivision cannabinoids
In order to be able to better understand the characteristics of cannabinoids in cannabis it is important to explain the basis of their origins. Cannabinoids are separated into three groups:
• Phytocannabinoids (botanical)
• Endocannabinoids (endogenous)
• Synthetic cannabinoids (laboratory manufactured)
The botanical cannabinoids from the cannabis plant are classified as phytocannabinoids, including the well-known THC and CBD. These are sometimes also called classic cannabinoids. Endocannabinoids however are naturally produced in the body. A well-known endocannabinoid is anandamide, a neurotransmitter which for instance effects appetite or the memory. The name is derived from the word ananda which means happiness. The substance can for example also be found in black truffles, cocoa and chocolate.
Cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2
A botanical cannabinoid, like THC, is capable of binding to a so-called cannabinoid receptor in the body, of which there are at least 2 types, CB1 and CB2. Only after studying THC and the discovery of these two cannabinoid receptors in respectively 1988 and 1993, it was discovered that our body also manufactures a substance which binds to those. This substance, called anandamide, produces the same effect as THC from cannabis.
Just like anandamide, THC stimulates the appetite and produces the same comfortable feeling, from which it can be deduced that it imitates this endogenous substance. Both our bodies, as well as that of almost all animals that also possess an endocannabinoid system, so do recognise the phytocannabinoids from cannabis and consider it a familiar substance.
This has caused cannabis to become popular. It also ensures that the usage of cannabis does not produce any unwanted side effects, which other substances often are prone to do. It also explains why an effect can be noticed so incredibly quickly after ingestion. CBD oil for instance can have a noticeable effect after only 10 minutes.
Classes of phytocannabinoids
Botanical cannabinoids from cannabis are subdivided into the following subclasses:
• Cannabigerol (CBG)
• Cannabidiol (CBD)
• Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
• Cannabichromene (CBC)
• Cannabinol (CBN)
• Other phytocannabinoids, including cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabielsoin (CBE) and
cannabitriol (CBT)
On the full List of Cannabinoids you can find all the groups, with all cannabinoids subdivided. The phytocannabinoids possess many of the same properties, but sometimes also have characteristics which are unique for the specific phytocannabinoid. On the phytocannabinoids information page all these components with the various beneficial effects are described in detail.
Acidic cannabinoids
Besides the neutral forms of cannabinoids, there are also the acid forms (letter A behind abbreviation) which are found in large concentrations in the fresh plant. These acid forms are converted to the neutral form after the plant material is dried or heated. This is called decarboxylation, which means it loses an carboxylic acid by making CO2.
So for instance the acid form THCA is converted into the neutral, psychoactive form THC and the acidic CBDA into the neutral CBD. This means the plant itself holds minimal concentrations of the psychoactive component THC. In order to be able to experience the well-known high sensation it is therefore important that recreational users heat up the weed before ingestion. This happens for example in a vaporiser or during the smoking of a joint.
Users that take cannabis for their well-being appreciate CBD, in both the neutral as well as in the acidic form. Some scholars are of the opinion that CBDA is more remarkable than CBD. Because of this with the preparation of oils for ingestion, these days the focus is also on manufacturing methods whereby as less heat as possible is used.
Endocannabinoids in the body
Endocannabinoids, derived from the word endogen which means from the inside, are substances which are produced in the body itself and which trigger the cannabinoid receptors. After the discovery of the first cannabinoid receptor CB1 in 1988, scientists went on an intensive search for endogenous compounds which bind to this receptor. Up to date a total of 18 endocannabinoids have been indentified which exhibit a binding affinity to the cannabinoid receptors in the body. Some of these compounds are shown here below.
Types of endocannabinoids
• Arachidonoylethanolamine (Anandamide or AEA) • 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) • 2-arachidonyl glyceryl ether (Noladin ether or 2-AG ether) • N-arachidonoyl dopamine (NADA) • Virodhamine (OAE) • Lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI)
The highest focus in the studies has been placed on the endocannabinoids anandamine and 2-AG.
Synthetic cannabinoids
Synthetic cannabinoids are made in a laboratory and are especially useful for scientists for experimental purposes. Recreational usage of these can be dangerous and is therefore advised against. Below are some synthetic variants:
• JWH-018 • JWH-073 • Levonantradol • Dimethylheptylpyran • HU-210 • HU-331 • SR144528 • WIN 55.212-2 • JWH-133 • CP-55940 • AM-2201 • Cannabicyclohexanol
Cannabinoids in other plants
For a long time the assumption has been that cannabinoids only occurred in cannabis plants, but recent publications have shown that cannabinoids in other plants are being produced as well. It has been discovered that more plants exist which hold substances that behave like phytocannabinoids. The best known cannabinoids which are not derived from cannabis, are the bioactive molecules N-alkylamides (NAA) from Echinacea (Coneflower) species. Some of these alkylamides have shown affinity for the CB2-receptor.
Plants in which phytocannabinoids occur are:
• Echinacea purpurea - Purple coneflower • Echinacea angustifolia - Narrow-leaved purple coneflower • Echinacea pallida - Pale purple coneflower • Acmella oleracea - Paracress • Helichrysum Umbraculigerum - Woolly umbrella helichrysum • Radula marginata – New-Zealand liverwort Besides N-alkylamides and classic cannabinoids, like CBD, CBC and THC, the terpene β-caryophyllene also possesses the property of being able to bind to the CB2-receptors. Caryophyllene occurs in high concentrations in cannabis and hops, but is also found in countless other plants and herbs, like for instance black pepper, cloves, basil, mugwort and chamomile. It has also been established that flax contains a substance which exhibits much likeness to CBD and similar substances like CBC, CBL and CBT appear to occur in the Chinese rhododendron (Rhododendron anthopogonoides).
Cannabimimetics
All these non-classical cannabinoids which can exert a certain influence on the cannabinoid-receptors are called cannabimimetics. The modern designer drugs are classified as these as well, like Spice, in which synthetic cannabinoids like JWH018 and JWH073 can be found. The use of Spice however is advised against.
The name cannabimimetics is derived from the word mimetics, by which substances are meant which mimic the function of an endogenous substance and which interact with the same receptors. This means by cannamimetics substances are indicated which imitate the classic cannabinoids.
Classic cannabinoids, like CBD and THC mostly have the same chemical formula C21H30O2, while cannabimimetics, like for instance N-alkylamides, caryophyllene or JWH018, possess wholy different chemical formulas.