The first scientific studies on the hemp plant were conducted as early as the mid-20th century. Initially, the goal was to identify the chemical structure of the ingredients. Later, the molecular target structures of the cannabinoids in our bodies were investigated and the endocannabinoid system (ECS) was discovered, which consists of the cannabinoid receptors and the body's own endocannabinoids.
The structural framework of many renowned drugs originally comes from so-called “natural substances,” that is, active ingredients derived from nature (such as the active ingredient penicillin from the brush form). The hemp plant with its numerous natural substances was and still is important today in the development of new drugs.
The endocannabinoid system and endogenous cannabinoids.
Most people know the word “cannabinoid” only in the context of the ingredients of the hemp plant. It refers to a series of substances that have different effects on our bodies when the hemp plant is consumed. Endocannabinoids, on the other hand, are less well known because they are not absorbed from the environment, but are endogenous molecules that act on the same receptors in our bodies as known cannabinoids. “Endo” is derived from the Greek for ‘within’ or ‘inside’ and in this context means ”endogenous.”
Endocannabinoids - important messenger substances in our bodies.
Endocannabinoids are bodily messenger substances that act on the same receptors as the phytocannabinoids THC and CBD. A fundamental distinction must be made between the following terms: endocannabinoids that are produced naturally in the body, phytocannabinoids found in the hemp plant and synthetic cannabinoids, which are produced artificially.
The receptors on which all these cannabinoids act are called cannabinoid receptors, and the two best-known representatives are the CB1 and CB2 receptors. It was first discovered that the endocannabinoid “anandamide,” like THC, acts on the CB1 receptor. Anandamide is a fatty acid that at first glance appears to have little structural relationship with THC.
A host of other endocannabinoids were later discovered, including noladine ether and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). All known endocannabinoids are synthesized in the body from the omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic acid. New components of the endocannabinoid system, including the endocannabinoids and their receptors, are still being discovered.
The CB1 receptor
Endocannabinoids, which, like anandamide, act on the CB1 receptor, play an important role in brain development by supporting the networking of nerve cells. It has been found that the release of endocannabinoids occurs mainly in stressful situations, with the effect on the CB1 receptor having an analgesic effect. A host of other effects are associated with CB1 receptor activity, including increased appetite, reduced anxiety, a protective effect after brain injury and a reduction in withdrawal symptoms. After the appetite-promoting effects of the activated CB1 receptor were discovered, the CB1 blocker (a substance that inhibits rather than activates the receptor) rimonabant was developed, which counteracts hunger accordingly. This was used to treat obesity to reduce the feeling of hunger in those affected.
The CB2 receptor
The CB2 receptor is the second, well-known representative of the cannabinoid receptors. It is mainly mentioned in connection with the phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) because it is a prominent target structure of this popular cannabinoid. In addition to the phytocannabinoid CBD, the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol acts on this cannabinoid receptor. In humans, the CB2 receptor is found in the central and peripheral nervous system, the gastrointestinal tract and on various cells of the immune system. The activity of the CB2 receptor on the immune system is described in many studies as anti-inflammatory and is the subject of intense research.
The human endocannabinoid system
THC and CBD act on the same receptors as the body's own endocannabinoids
Endocannabinoids are produced in the body from omega-6 fatty acids
main functions of the CB1 receptor: pain relief and increased appetite
main function of the CB2 receptor: inhibition of inflammatory processes
To better understand the effect of phytocannabinoids on the endocannabinoid system, it is essential to increase tolerance and fully utilize their potential.
