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Kronstrand R, Roman M, Green H, Truver MT. Quantitation of hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and metabolites in blood from DUID cases. J Anal Toxicol 2024; 48:235-241. [PMID: 38581662 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkae030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) was first reported in the EU in May 2022. HHC has three chiral carbon atoms, but only (6aR,9R,10aR)-HHC (9R-HHC) and (6aR,9S,10aR)-HHC (9S-HHC) have been encountered in HHC products. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a method for the quantitative analysis of 9R-HHC, 9S-HHC, 11-OH-9R-HHC, 9R-HHC-COOH, 9S-HHC-COOH and 8-OH-9R-HHC. In addition, an objective was to investigate the immunochemical cross-reactivity. Blood samples from driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) cases screened positive for cannabis using enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) and confirmed negative for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-hydroxy-THC and THC-COOH were reanalyzed with a newly validated HHC method to investigate the presence of HHC and metabolites. The LC-MS-MS method was validated for matrix effects, lower limit of quantification (LLOQ), calibration model, precision, bias and autosampler stability. Cross-reactivity on an ELISA method was investigated separately for 9R-HHC-COOH and 9S-HHC-COOH at a concentration range between 5 and 200 ng/mL. The cross-reactivity was found to be 120% for 9R-HHC-COOH and 48% for 9S-HHC-COOH. In the LC-MS-MS method, 9R-HHC-COOH, 9S-HHC-COOH and 11-OH-9R-HHC showed matrix effects <25% at both concentrations, while 8-OH-9R-HHC, 9R-HHC and 9S-HHC matrix effects exceeded 25% at both concentrations but showed good precision (<10% for both inter and intra day) and low bias (<6%) in the further validation. The LLOQ was investigated and established at 0.2 ng/mL for all analytes except the carboxylated metabolites that had an LLOQ of 2.0 ng/mL. The upper LOQ was 20 and 200 ng/mL, respectively. Reanalysis of cases (n = 145) confirmed HHC and metabolites in 32 cases (22%). It was determined that the major metabolite in blood after administration of HHC was 9R-HHC-COOH followed by 11-OH-9R-HHC and that presumptive positive cases are caught by the routine ELISA screening for cannabis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Kronstrand
- Department of Forensic Genetics and Forensic Toxicology, National Board of Forensic Medicine, Artillerigatan 12, Linköping 587 58, Sweden
- Division of Clinical Chemistry and Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping 581 83, Sweden
| | - Markus Roman
- Department of Forensic Genetics and Forensic Toxicology, National Board of Forensic Medicine, Artillerigatan 12, Linköping 587 58, Sweden
| | - Henrik Green
- Department of Forensic Genetics and Forensic Toxicology, National Board of Forensic Medicine, Artillerigatan 12, Linköping 587 58, Sweden
- Division of Clinical Chemistry and Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping 581 83, Sweden
| | - Michael T Truver
- Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, 4800 SW 35th Drive, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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Karas LK, Patterson C, Fuller ZJ, Karschner EL. Automated extraction and LC-MS-MS analysis of 11-nor-9-carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol isomers and prevalence in authentic urine specimens. J Anal Toxicol 2024; 48:197-203. [PMID: 38581658 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkae031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
11-Nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THCCOOH) is the most frequently detected illicit drug metabolite in the military drug testing program. An increasing number of specimens containing unresolved Δ8-THCCOOH prompted the addition of this analyte to the Department of Defense drug testing panel. A method was developed and validated for the quantitative confirmation of the carboxylated metabolites of Δ8- and Δ9-THC in urine samples utilizing automated pipette tip dispersive solid-phase extraction and analysis by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). Analytes were separated isocratically over an 8.5-min runtime and detected on an MS-MS equipped with an electrospray ionization source operated in negative mode. A single point calibrator (15 ng/mL) forced through zero demonstrated linearity from 3 to 1,000 ng/mL. Intra- and inter-day precision were ≤9.1%, and bias was within ±14.1% for Δ8-THCCOOH and Δ9-THCCOOH. No interferences were found after challenging the method with different over-the-counter drugs, prescription pharmaceuticals, drugs of abuse and several cannabinoids and cannabinoid metabolites, including Δ10-THCCOOH. Urine specimens presumptively positive by immunoassay (n = 2,939; 50 ng/mL Δ9-THCCOOH cutoff) were confirmed with this analytical method. Δ8-THCCOOH and Δ9-THCCOOH were present together above the 15 ng/mL cutoff in 33% of specimens. However, nearly one-third of the specimens analyzed were positive for Δ8-THCCOOH only. This manuscript describes the first validated automated extraction and confirmation method for Δ8- and Δ9-THCCOOH in urine that provides adequate analyte separation in urine specimens with extreme isomer abundance ratios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa K Karas
- United States Army Forensic Toxicology Drug Testing Laboratory, 2490 Wilson Street, Fort Meade, MD 20755, USA
| | - Courtney Patterson
- United States Army Forensic Toxicology Drug Testing Laboratory, 2490 Wilson Street, Fort Meade, MD 20755, USA
| | - Zachary J Fuller
- United States Army Forensic Toxicology Drug Testing Laboratory, 2490 Wilson Street, Fort Meade, MD 20755, USA
| | - Erin L Karschner
- Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, Division of Forensic Toxicology, Dover AFB, 115 Purple Heart Drive, Dover, DE 19902, USA
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Höfert L, Becker S, Dreßler J, Baumann S. Quantification of (9R)- and (9S)-hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) via GC-MS in serum/plasma samples from drivers suspected of cannabis consumption and immunological detection of HHC and related substances in serum, urine, and saliva. Drug Test Anal 2024; 16:489-497. [PMID: 37652872 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
The semisynthetic cannabinoid hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) is currently getting a lot of media attention because the legal status in many countries is not clearly specified. In this study, a GC-MS method for the quantification of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-hydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-THC), and 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) was extended to (9R)- and (9S)-HHC. The applicability was proven by serum/plasma samples from drivers suspected of cannabis consumption. Limit of detection (LOD) and lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) were 0.15 and 0.25 ng/mL, respectively. Within-run imprecision was <6.5% and between-run imprecision was <10.0%. Inter-injection stability, processed sample stability (3 days), freeze-thaw stability (three cycles), and storage stability (1 week room temperature; 1 month 4°C, -20°C) could be proven. Both HHC diastereomers could be detected in 17 (5.3%) out of 321 analyzed samples from traffic controls in Western Saxony. The mean ratio between (9R)- and (9S)-HHC was 1.99 (CV = 14.6%). Quantification resulted in concentrations between
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Höfert
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Susen Becker
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jan Dreßler
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sven Baumann
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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Helander A, Johansson M, Villén T, Andersson A. Appearance of hexahydrocannabinols as recreational drugs and implications for cannabis drug testing - focus on HHC, HHC-P, HHC-O and HHC-H. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 2024; 84:125-132. [PMID: 38619215 DOI: 10.1080/00365513.2024.2340039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and other unclassified cannabinoids, which were recently introduced to the recreational drug market, on cannabis drug testing in urine and oral fluid samples. After the appearance of HHC in Sweden in 2022, the number of posts about HHC on an online drug discussion forum increased significantly in the spring of 2023, indicating increased interest and use. In parallel, the frequency of false positive screening tests for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in oral fluid, and for its carboxy metabolite (THC-COOH) in urine, rose from <2% to >10%. This suggested that HHC cross-reacted with the antibodies in the immunoassay screening, which was confirmed in spiking experiments with HHC, HHC-COOH, HHC acetate (HHC-O), hexahydrocannabihexol (HHC-H), hexahydrocannabiphorol (HHC-P), and THC-P. When HHC and HHC-P were classified as narcotics in Sweden on 11 July 2023, they disappeared from the online and street shops market and were replaced by other unregulated variants (e.g. HHC-O and THC-P). In urine samples submitted for routine cannabis drug testing, HHC-COOH concentrations up to 205 (mean 60, median 27) µg/L were observed. To conclude, cannabis drug testing cannot rely on results from immunoassay screening, as it cannot distinguish between different tetra- and hexahydrocannabinols, some being classified but others unregulated. The current trend for increased use of unregulated cannabinols will likely increase the proportion of positive cannabis screening results that need to be confirmed with mass spectrometric methods. However, the observed cross-reactivity also means a way to pick up use of new cannabinoids that otherwise risk going undetected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Helander
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Malin Johansson
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tomas Villén
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Annika Andersson
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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Gul W, Shahzadi I, Sarma N, Kim NC, ElSohly MA. Development and Validation of a GC-FID Method for the Quantitation of Δ 8-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Impurities Found in Synthetic Δ 8-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Vaping Products. Planta Med 2024; 90:316-332. [PMID: 38387478 PMCID: PMC11057961 DOI: 10.1055/a-2249-7824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Concerns about health hazards associated with the consumption of trans-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol products were highlighted in public health advisories from the U. S. Food and Drug Administration and U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Simple and rapid quantitative methods to determine trans-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol impurities are vital to analyze such products. In this study, a gas chromatography-flame ionization detection method was developed and validated for the determination of delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol and some of its impurities (recently published) found in synthesized trans-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol raw material and included olivetol, cannabicitran, Δ 8-cis-iso-tetrahydrocannabinol, Δ 4-iso-tetrahydrocannabinol, iso-tetrahydrocannabifuran, cannabidiol, Δ 4,8-iso-tetrahydrocannabinol, Δ 8-iso-tetrahydrocannabinol, 4,8-epoxy-iso-tetrahydrocannabinol, trans-Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol, 8-hydroxy-iso-THC, 9α-hydroxyhexahydrocannabinol, and 9β-hydroxyhexahydrocannabinol. Validation of the method was assessed according to the International Council for Harmonization guidelines and confirmed linearity with R2 ≥ 0.99 for all the target analytes. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation were 1.5 and 5 µg/mL, respectively, except for olivetol, which had a limit of detection of 3 µg/mL and a limit of quantitation of 10 µg/mL. Method precision was calculated as % relative standard deviation and the values were less than 8.4 and 9.9% for the intraday precision and inter-day precision, respectively. The accuracy ranged from 85 to 118%. The method was then applied to the analysis of 21 commercially marketed vaping products claiming to contain delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol. The products analyzed by this method have various levels of these impurities, with all products far exceeding the 0.3% of trans-Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol limit for hemp under the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. The developed gas chromatography-flame ionization detection method can be an important tool for monitoring delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol impurities in commercial products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waseem Gul
- ElSohly Laboratories, Inc., Oxford, MS, USA
| | | | - Nandakumara Sarma
- Dietary Supplements and Herbal Medicines, United States Pharmacopeia, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Nam-Cheol Kim
- Dietary Supplements and Herbal Medicines, United States Pharmacopeia, Rockville, MD, USA
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Pettersson-Pablo P, Oxelbark J. LC-MS/MS analysis of 11-nor-9-carboxy-hexahydrocannabinol (HHC-COOH) and 11-hydroxy-hexahydrocannabinol (HHC-OH) for verification of hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) intake. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 2024; 84:109-114. [PMID: 38529884 DOI: 10.1080/00365513.2024.2333023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Natural and semi-synthetic cannabinoid analogs are getting increasing media attention for their recreative use as an alternative to traditional cannabis, in Sweden as well as internationally. To investigate an increasing number of urine samples incoming to our clinical laboratory that were screening positive, using a CEDIA THC-COOH immunoassay from ThermoFisher Scientific, but then testing negative using GC-MS based verification analysis, we developed an LC-MS/MS-method for verification of hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol. Assessment of HHC intake was based on identification of the following four metabolites: 11-nor-9(R)-carboxy-hexahydrocannabinol (R-HHC-COOH), 11-nor-9(S)-carboxy-hexahydrocannabinol (S-HHC-COOH), 11-hydroxy-9(R)-hexahydrocannabinol (R-HHC-OH) and 11-hydroxy-9(S)-hexahydrocannabinol (S-HHC-OH). Out of 46 urine samples analysed in this study, 44 showed presence of HHC-metabolites, which indicate HHC as the main explanation for an increased number of negative verifications for THC-COOH. In these samples, the HHC-OH metabolites occurred at a higher concentration than R-HHC-COOH while S-HHC-COOH was only detected in few samples at low concentrations. R-HHC-COOH and S-HHC-COOH can easily be added to a pre-existing verification method for THC-COOH, and still show acceptable results, while HHC-OH requires an enzyme capable of hydrolysing the ether glucuronide bond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Pettersson-Pablo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Joakim Oxelbark
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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Whitehill JM, Dunn KE, Johnson RM. The Public Health Challenge of Δ8-THC and Derived Psychoactive Cannabis Products. JAMA 2024; 331:834-836. [PMID: 38470394 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2024.0801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Whitehill
- Department of Health Promotion and Policy, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst
| | - Kelly E Dunn
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Renee M Johnson
- Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
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Harlow AF, Miech RA, Leventhal AM. Adolescent Δ8-THC and Marijuana Use in the US. JAMA 2024; 331:861-865. [PMID: 38470384 PMCID: PMC10933714 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2024.0865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Importance Gummies, flavored vaping devices, and other cannabis products containing psychoactive hemp-derived Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are increasingly marketed in the US with claims of being federally legal and comparable to marijuana. National data on prevalence and correlates of Δ8-THC use and comparisons to marijuana use among adolescents in the US are lacking. Objective To estimate the self-reported prevalence of and sociodemographic and policy factors associated with Δ8-THC and marijuana use among US adolescents in the past 12 months. Design, Setting, and Participants This nationally representative cross-sectional analysis included a randomly selected subset of 12th-grade students in 27 US states who participated in the Monitoring the Future Study in-school survey during February to June 2023. Exposures Self-reported sex, race, ethnicity, and parental education; census region; state-level adult-use (ie, recreational) marijuana legalization (yes vs no); and state-level Δ8-THC policies (regulated vs not regulated). Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was self-reported Δ8-THC and marijuana use in the past 12 months (any vs no use and number of occasions used). Results In the sample of 2186 12th-grade students (mean age, 17.7 years; 1054 [48.9% weighted] were female; 232 [11.1%] were Black, 411 [23.5%] were Hispanic, 1113 [46.1%] were White, and 328 [14.2%] were multiracial), prevalence of self-reported use in the past 12 months was 11.4% (95% CI, 8.6%-14.2%) for Δ8-THC and 30.4% (95% CI, 26.5%-34.4%) for marijuana. Of those 295 participants reporting Δ8-THC use, 35.4% used it at least 10 times in the past 12 months. Prevalence of Δ8-THC use was lower in Western vs Southern census regions (5.0% vs 14.3%; risk difference [RD], -9.4% [95% CI, -15.2% to -3.5%]; adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 0.35 [95% CI, 0.16-0.77]), states in which Δ8-THC was regulated vs not regulated (5.7% vs 14.4%; RD, -8.6% [95% CI, -12.9% to -4.4%]; aRR, 0.42 [95% CI, 0.23-0.74]), and states with vs without legal adult-use marijuana (8.0% vs 14.0%; RD, -6.0% [95% CI, -10.8% to -1.2%]; aRR, 0.56 [95% CI, 0.35-0.91]). Use in the past 12 months was lower among Hispanic than White participants for Δ8-THC (7.3% vs 14.4%; RD, -7.2% [95% CI, -12.2% to -2.1%]; aRR, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.34-0.87]) and marijuana (24.5% vs 33.0%; RD, -8.5% [95% CI, -14.9% to -2.1%]; aRR, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.59-0.94]). Δ8-THC and marijuana use prevalence did not differ by sex or parental education. Conclusions and Relevance Δ8-THC use prevalence is appreciable among US adolescents and is higher in states without marijuana legalization or existing Δ8-THC regulations. Prioritizing surveillance, policy, and public health efforts addressing adolescent Δ8-THC use may be warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa F. Harlow
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
- Institute for Addiction Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Richard A. Miech
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Adam M. Leventhal
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
- Institute for Addiction Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California
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Kassim FM, Tod S, Rodger J, Hood SD, Lee JWY, Albrecht MA, Martin-Iverson MT. Nabilone Impairs Spatial and Verbal Working Memory in Healthy Volunteers. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2024; 9:199-211. [PMID: 36201240 DOI: 10.1089/can.2022.0099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Memory impairments and psychosis-like experiences can be adverse effects of cannabis use. However, reports on the cognitive impact of cannabis use are not consistent. There are also limited studies on the psychotomimetic effects of cannabinoid compounds to reveal the association between cannabis and psychosis. Therefore, we investigated the effect of acute cannabinoid intoxication on verbal working memory (VWM) and spatial working memory (SWM) following oral doses of the synthetic cannabinoid agonist, nabilone (1-2 mg, oral). We further investigated the effect of nabilone on psychosis-like experiences (schizotypy scores) and associations of schizotypy with VWM and SWM. Methods: Healthy participants (n=28) completed spatial and digit span tasks across different delay conditions (0, 6, 12, and 18 sec) after receiving nabilone (1-2 mg, PO) or placebo in a randomized, double-blind, counterbalanced, crossover manner. A subset of participants completed a short battery of schizotypy measures (n=25). Results: Nabilone impaired VWM (p=0.03, weak effect size η2=0.02) and SWM (p=0.00016, η2=0.08). Nabilone did not significantly change overall schizotypy scores. Schizotypy scores were negatively correlated with working memory (WM) averaged across all delays and both modalities, under placebo (ρ=-0.41, p=0.04). In addition, there were significant negative correlations between occasions of cannabis use and overall WM averaged scores across drug treatments (ρ=-0.49, p=0.007) and under placebo (ρ=-0.45, p=0.004). The results showed that the drug effect in the less frequent cannabis users was more pronounced on the SWM (p<0.01) and VWM (p<0.01), whereas there appeared to be little drug effect in the frequent cannabis users. Conclusion: Low doses of synthetic cannabinoid impaired SWM and VWM, indicating that exogenous activation of the cannabinoid system influences cognitive performance. Further, the results replicated previous findings that schizotypy is correlated with deficits in WM. Clinical Trial Registry Name: Nabilone and caffeine effects on the perceptions of visually, auditory, tactile and multimodal illusions in healthy volunteers. Clinical Trial Registration Number: CT-2018-CTN-02561 (Therapeutic Goods Administration Clinical Trial Registry) and ACTRN12618001292268 (The Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry).
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Affiliation(s)
- Faiz M Kassim
- Psychopharmacology Research Unit, Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Sophie Tod
- Psychopharmacology Research Unit, Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jennifer Rodger
- Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
- Brain Plasticity Group, Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Sean D Hood
- Division of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Joseph W Y Lee
- Division of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Matthew A Albrecht
- Western Australian Centre for Road Safety Research, School of Psychological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Mathew T Martin-Iverson
- Psychopharmacology Research Unit, Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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Werth VP, Hejazi E, Pena SM, Haber J, Zeidi M, Reddy N, Okawa J, Feng R, Bashir MM, Gebre K, Jadoo AS, Concha JSS, Dgetluck N, Constantine S, White B. Safety and Efficacy of Lenabasum, a Cannabinoid Receptor Type 2 Agonist, in Patients with Dermatomyositis with Refractory Skin Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial. J Invest Dermatol 2022; 142:2651-2659.e1. [PMID: 35490744 PMCID: PMC10226779 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Treatment options are limited for skin disease in dermatomyositis. Lenabasum is a cannabinoid receptor type 2 agonist that triggers the resolution of inflammation. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of lenabasum in patients with refractory cutaneous dermatomyositis. DESIGN This study was a single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 study conducted from July 2015 to August 2017. POPULATION The population included subjects aged ≥18 years with at least moderately active dermatomyositis skin activity by Cutaneous Dermatomyositis Disease Area and Severity Index activity ≥ 14 and failure or intolerance to hydroxychloroquine. INTERVENTION Participants received 20 mg lenabasum daily for 28 days and then 20 mg twice per day for 56 days or placebo. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was a change in Cutaneous Dermatomyositis Disease Area and Severity Index activity. Safety and other secondary efficacy assessments were performed till day 113. RESULTS A total of 22 subjects were randomized to lenabasum (n = 11) or placebo (n = 11). No serious or severe adverse events were related to lenabasum, and no participants discontinued the study. The adjusted least-squares mean for Cutaneous Dermatomyositis Disease Area and Severity Index activity decreased more for lenabasum, and the difference was significant on day 113 (least-squares mean [standard error] difference = ‒6.5 [3.1], P = 0.038). Numerically greater improvements were seen in multiple secondary efficacy outcomes and biomarkers with lenabasum. CONCLUSION Lenabasum treatment was well tolerated and was associated with greater improvement in Cutaneous Dermatomyositis Disease Area and Severity Index activity and multiple efficacy outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02466243.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria P Werth
- Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
| | - Emily Hejazi
- Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sandra M Pena
- Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jessica Haber
- Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Majid Zeidi
- Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Nithin Reddy
- Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Joyce Okawa
- Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Rui Feng
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Muhammad M Bashir
- Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kirubel Gebre
- Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Arvin S Jadoo
- Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Josef Symon S Concha
- Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Kumar AR, Patilea-Vrana GI, Anoshchenko O, Unadkat JD. Characterizing and Quantifying Extrahepatic Metabolism of (-)-Δ 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Its Psychoactive Metabolite, (±)-11-Hydroxy-Δ 9-THC (11-OH-THC). Drug Metab Dispos 2022; 50:734-740. [PMID: 35370140 PMCID: PMC9199115 DOI: 10.1124/dmd.122.000868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
(-)-Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psychoactive constituent of cannabis, a drug recreationally consumed orally or by inhalation. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling can be used to predict systemic and tissue exposure to THC and its psychoactive metabolite, (±)-11-hydroxy-Δ9-THC (11-OH-THC). To populate a THC/11-OH-THC PBPK model, we previously characterized the depletion clearance of THC (by CYP2C9) and 11-OH-THC (by UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT), CYP3A, and CYP2C9) in adult human liver microsomes. Here we focused on quantifying extrahepatic depletion clearance of THC/11-OH-THC, important after oral (intestine) and inhalational (lung) consumption of THC as well as prenatal THC use (placenta and fetal liver). THC (500 nM) was metabolized in adult human intestinal microsomes (n = 3-5) by CYP2C9 [Vmax: 1.1 ± 0.38 nmol/min/mg; Michaelis-Menten constant (Km): 70 nM; intrinsic clearance (CLint): 15 ± 5.4 ml/min/mg; fraction metabolized (fm): 0.89 ± 0.31 at concentration ≪ 70 nM] and CYP3A (CLint: 2.0 ± 0.86 ml/min/mg; fm: 0.11 ± 0.050). 11-OH-THC (50 nM) was metabolized by CYP3A (CLint: 0.26 ± 0.058 ml/min/mg; fm: 0.51 ± 0.11) and UGT2B7 (CLint: 0.13 ± 0.027 ml/min/mg; fm: 0.25 ± 0.053). THC at 500 nM (CLint: 4.7 ± 0.22 ml/min/mg) and 11-OH-THC at 50 nM (CLint: 2.4 ± 0.13 ml/min/mg) were predominately (fm: 0.99 and 0.80, respectively) metabolized by CYP3A in human fetal liver microsomes (n = 3). However, we did not observe significant depletion of THC/11-OH-THC in adult lung, first trimester, second trimester, or term placentae microsomes. Using PBPK modeling and simulation, these data could be used in the future to predict systemic and tissue THC/11-OH-THC exposure in healthy and special populations. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This is the first characterization and quantification of (-)-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and (±)-11-hydroxy-Δ9-THC (11-OH-THC) depletion clearance by cytochrome P450 and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase enzymes in extrahepatic human tissues: intestine, fetal liver, lung, and placenta. These data can be used to predict, through physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling and simulation, systemic and tissue THC/11-OH-THC exposure after inhalational and oral THC use in both healthy and special populations (e.g., pregnant women).
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya R Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | | | - Olena Anoshchenko
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Jashvant D Unadkat
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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12
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Abstract
Objectives. To assess the popularity of an emergent drug, delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and compare interest levels between US states with or without legalized recreational cannabis. Methods. We used Google Trends to assess the growth of interest among delta-8 THC-related search terms from May 17, 2020, to May 9, 2021. We examined differences between states with or without legalized cannabis using state-level Google Trends data from February 13 to May 13, 2021, and policy data from the National Conference of State Legislatures. Results. Interest in delta-8 THC increased starting in mid-June 2020, with search volumes for delta-8 THC queries currently at 35% of the "marijuana" query. States where recreational cannabis is illegal had higher relative queries than did states with legalized recreational cannabis (52.3 vs 14.8; t = 40.9; P < .001). Conclusions. There has been rapid growth in interest in delta-8 THC. Findings between state policy contexts likely indicate delta-8 THC's role as a substitute good for delta-9 THC. Public Health Implications. Digital signals such as search volumes may point to an emergent use trend in the substance delta-8 THC. Further studies are needed to assess potential harms and correlates of delta-8 THC use. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(2):296-299. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306586).
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Affiliation(s)
- Melvin D Livingston
- Melvin D. Livingston and Andrew Walker are with the Department of Behavioral Social and Health Education Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA. Michael B. Cannell is with the Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, Dallas, TX. Matthew E. Rossheim is with the Department of Health Behavior and Health Systems, School of Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth
| | - Andrew Walker
- Melvin D. Livingston and Andrew Walker are with the Department of Behavioral Social and Health Education Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA. Michael B. Cannell is with the Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, Dallas, TX. Matthew E. Rossheim is with the Department of Health Behavior and Health Systems, School of Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth
| | - Michael B Cannell
- Melvin D. Livingston and Andrew Walker are with the Department of Behavioral Social and Health Education Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA. Michael B. Cannell is with the Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, Dallas, TX. Matthew E. Rossheim is with the Department of Health Behavior and Health Systems, School of Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth
| | - Matthew E Rossheim
- Melvin D. Livingston and Andrew Walker are with the Department of Behavioral Social and Health Education Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA. Michael B. Cannell is with the Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, Dallas, TX. Matthew E. Rossheim is with the Department of Health Behavior and Health Systems, School of Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth
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13
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Smid MC, Metz TD, McMillin GA, Mele L, Casey BM, Reddy UM, Wapner RJ, Thorp JM, Saade GR, Tita ATN, Miller ES, Rouse DJ, Sibai B, Costantine MM, Mercer BM, Caritis SN. Prenatal Nicotine or Cannabis Exposure and Offspring Neurobehavioral Outcomes. Obstet Gynecol 2022; 139:21-30. [PMID: 34856574 PMCID: PMC8715943 DOI: 10.1097/aog.0000000000004632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the association between nicotine or cannabis metabolite presence in maternal urine and child neurodevelopmental outcomes. METHODS We conducted a secondary analysis of two parallel multicenter randomized controlled trials of treatment for hypothyroxinemia or subclinical hypothyroidism among pregnant individuals enrolled at 8-20 weeks of gestation. All maternal-child dyads with a maternal urine sample at enrollment and child neurodevelopmental testing were included (N=1,197). Exposure was urine samples positive for nicotine (cotinine) or cannabis 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol [THC-COOH]) or both metabolites. Primary outcome was child IQ at 60 months. Secondary outcomes included cognitive, motor and language, attention, behavioral and social competency, and differential skills assessments at 12, 24, 36, and 48 months. Quantile regression analysis was performed with confounder adjustment. RESULTS Of 1,197 pregnant individuals, 99 (8.3%) had positive cotinine samples and 47 (3.9%) had positive THC-COOH samples; 33 (2.8%) were positive for both. Groups differed in self-reported race and ethnicity, education, marital status, insurance, and thyroid status. Median IQ was similar between cotinine-exposed and -unexposed children (90 vs 95, adjusted difference in medians -2.47, 95% CI -6.22 to 1.29) and THC-COOH-exposed and -unexposed children (89 vs 95, adjusted difference in medians -1.35, 95% CI -7.76 to 5.05). In secondary outcome analysis, children with THC-COOH exposure compared with those unexposed had higher attention scores at 48 months of age (57 vs 49, adjusted difference in medians 6.0, 95% CI 1.11-10.89). CONCLUSIONS Neither prenatal nicotine nor cannabis exposure was associated with a difference in IQ. Cannabis exposure was associated with worse attention scores in early childhood. Longitudinal studies assessing associations between child neurodevelopmental outcomes and prenatal nicotine and cannabis exposure with a focus on timing and quantity of exposure are needed. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00388297.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela C Smid
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah, University of Texas-Southwestern, Dallas, Texas, Columbia University, New York, New York, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, University of Texas-Houston, Houston, Texas, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, and University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; the Department of Pathology, University of Utah Health and ARUP Laboratories, Salt Lake City, Utah; the George Washington University Biostatistics Center, Washington, DC; and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland
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14
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marshall Howell
- Emory University School of Medicine; Emory University School of Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine
| | - Victoria Earl
- Emory University School of Medicine; Emory University School of Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine
| | - Manpreet Malik
- Emory University School of Medicine; Emory University School of Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine, Atlanta, Ga
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15
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Nasrin S, Watson CJW, Perez-Paramo YX, Lazarus P. Cannabinoid Metabolites as Inhibitors of Major Hepatic CYP450 Enzymes, with Implications for Cannabis-Drug Interactions. Drug Metab Dispos 2021; 49:1070-1080. [PMID: 34493602 PMCID: PMC11022895 DOI: 10.1124/dmd.121.000442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The legalization of cannabis in many parts of the United States and other countries has led to a need for a more comprehensive understanding of cannabis constituents and their potential for drug-drug interactions. Although (-)-trans-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabinol (CBN) are the most abundant cannabinoids present in cannabis, THC metabolites are found in plasma at higher concentrations and for a longer duration than that of the parent cannabinoids. To understand the potential for drug-drug interactions, the inhibition potential of major cannabinoids and their metabolites on major hepatic cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes was examined. In vitro assays with P450-overexpressing cell microsomes demonstrated that the major THC metabolites 11-hydroxy-Δ9-tetra-hydrocannabinol and 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-THC-glucuronide competitively inhibited several major P450 enzymes, including CYP2B6, CYP2C9, and CYP2D6 (apparent Ki,u values = 0.086 ± 0.066 µM and 0.90 ± 0.54 µM, 0.057 ± 0.044 µM and 2.1 ± 0.81 µM, 0.15 ± 0.067 µM and 2.3 ± 0.54 µM, respectively). 11-Nor-9-carboxy-Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol exhibited no inhibitory activity against any CYP450 tested. THC competitively inhibited CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, and CYP2D6; CBD competitively inhibited CYP3A4, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2D6, and CYP2E1; and CBN competitively inhibited CYP2B6, CYP2C9, and CYP2E1. THC and CBD showed mixed-type inhibition for CYP2C19 and CYP1A2, respectively. These data suggest that cannabinoids and major THC metabolites are able to inhibit the activities of multiple P450 enzymes, and basic static modeling of these data suggest the possibility of pharmacokinetic interactions between these cannabinoids and xenobiotics extensively metabolized by CYP2B6, CYP2C9, and CYP2D6. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Major cannabinoids and their metabolites found in the plasma of cannabis users inhibit several P450 enzymes, including CYP2B6, CYP2C9, and CYP2D6. This study is the first to show the inhibition potential of the most abundant plasma cannabinoid metabolite, THC-COO-Gluc, and suggests that circulating metabolites of cannabinoids play an essential role in CYP450 enzyme inhibition as well as drug-drug interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shamema Nasrin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington
| | - Christy J W Watson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington
| | - Yadira X Perez-Paramo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington
| | - Philip Lazarus
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington
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16
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Leas EC. The Hemp Loophole: A Need to Clarify the Legality of Delta-8-THC and Other Hemp-Derived Tetrahydrocannabinol Compounds. Am J Public Health 2021; 111:1927-1931. [PMID: 34618542 PMCID: PMC8630489 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2021.306499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eric C Leas
- The author is with the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla
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17
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Perlman AI, McLeod HM, Ventresca EC, Salinas MG, Post PJ, Schuh MJ, Abu Dabrh AM. Medical Cannabis State and Federal Regulations: Implications for United States Health Care Entities. Mayo Clin Proc 2021; 96:2671-2681. [PMID: 34607636 DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2021.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Thirty-six states and four territories in the United States have legalized cannabis for medical and/or recreational use. Marijuana, however, continues to be classified as a schedule I substance under the Federal Controlled Substance Act and remains illegal under US federal law. The incongruity between state and federal legislation creates various challenges for stakeholders: patients, medical trainees, providers, and health care institutions. This communication provides an overview of the major policies impacting Cannabis sativa use within the United States, various state and federal regulations, and highlights potential implications for health care institutions moving forward. Existing literature, regulations, and policies on medical marijuana (MMJ) use in health care settings were searched, reviewed, analyzed, and distilled. As a consequence of legislative inconsistencies, there is insufficient clarity and resultant challenges regarding MMJ usage, prescription, possession, education, and research-related policies for health care stakeholders across the United States. Coupled with limited scientific evidence on the clinical efficacy of MMJ, the needs of the patient and the quality of health care delivery may be affected as hospitals balance the competing risks of being legislatively compliant while protecting the rights of patients and health care employees. There is a recognized need to better define acceptable MMJ policies and regulations in health care settings that are evidence-based, legally compliant, and adequately address the needs of both patients and providers. Given the complexity of the legal and policy landscape, there are potential opportunities for improvement, including in medical education and training, research, and usage oversight of MMJ for stakeholders in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam I Perlman
- Department of Integrative Health, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL.
| | - Heidi M McLeod
- Department of Integrative Health, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
| | | | | | - Peter J Post
- Department of Pharmacy, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, NY
| | - Michael J Schuh
- Department of Family Medicine and Palliative Medicine and Pharmacy, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
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18
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Martin LJ, Cairns EA, Heblinski M, Fletcher C, Krycer JR, Arnold JC, McGregor IS, Bowen MT, Anderson LL. Cannabichromene and Δ 9-Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid Identified as Lactate Dehydrogenase-A Inhibitors by in Silico and in Vitro Screening. J Nat Prod 2021; 84:1469-1477. [PMID: 33887133 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c01281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis sativa contains >120 phytocannabinoids, but our understanding of these compounds is limited. Determining the molecular modes of action of the phytocannabinoids may assist in their therapeutic development. Ligand-based virtual screening was used to suggest novel protein targets for phytocannabinoids. The similarity ensemble approach, a virtual screening tool, was applied to target identification for the phytocannabinoids as a class and predicted a possible interaction with the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) family of enzymes. In order to evaluate this in silico prediction, a panel of 18 phytocannabinoids was screened against two LDH isozymes (LDHA and LDHB) in vitro. Cannabichromene (CBC) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (Δ9-THCA) inhibited LDHA via a noncompetitive mode of inhibition with respect to pyruvate, with Ki values of 8.5 and 6.5 μM, respectively. In silico modeling was then used to predict the binding site for CBC and Δ9-THCA. Both were proposed to bind within the nicotinamide pocket, overlapping the binding site of the cofactor NADH, which is consistent with the noncompetitive modes of inhibition. Stemming from our in silico screen, CBC and Δ9-THCA were identified as inhibitors of LDHA, a novel molecular target that may contribute to their therapeutic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis J Martin
- Brain and Mind Centre, The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Elizabeth A Cairns
- Brain and Mind Centre, The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Marika Heblinski
- Brain and Mind Centre, The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Discipline of Pharmacology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Charlotte Fletcher
- Brain and Mind Centre, The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Discipline of Pharmacology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - James R Krycer
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Jonathon C Arnold
- Brain and Mind Centre, The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Discipline of Pharmacology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Iain S McGregor
- Brain and Mind Centre, The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Michael T Bowen
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Lyndsey L Anderson
- Brain and Mind Centre, The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Discipline of Pharmacology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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Velayudhan L, McGoohan KL, Bhattacharyya S. Evaluation of THC-Related Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Among Adults Aged 50 Years and Older: A Systematic Review and Metaregression Analysis. JAMA Netw Open 2021; 4:e2035913. [PMID: 33528550 PMCID: PMC7856542 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.35913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
This systematic review and metaregression analysis estimates the association between the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) dose of cannabinoid-based medicines and neuropsychiatric adverse events among adults aged 50 years and older.
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Affiliation(s)
- Latha Velayudhan
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, Division of Academic Psychiatry, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Katie Louise McGoohan
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, Division of Academic Psychiatry, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sagnik Bhattacharyya
- Department of Psychosis, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, Division of Academic Psychiatry, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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Abstract
The growing numbers of individual and social problems associated with drug abuse necessitate new approaches in drug-testing systems. Equally, drug abusers may attempt to invalidate drug testing using different methods such as adulteration, dilution and substitution. This study aims to investigate tampering methods commonly used by Turkish substance-using probationers and evaluate their effects on toxicological drug-testing results. Initially, probationer urinary screening test results and laboratory substitution documents were evaluated to investigate the dilution and substitution attempt. Additionally, an experimental study was carried out by using readily available household products (bleach, vinegar, drain opener, eye drops) for adulteration. The effect of these agents was investigated for 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH), amphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). It was determined that probationers preferred unbranded products (syringes, nylon bottles, etc.) for urine substitution. To detect dilution, screening test results were evaluated along with creatinine values. The variability of mean creatinine values can change the rate of the before-negative and after-positive ratio. For adulteration method, the high amounts of bleach provided false-negative results for THC-COOH and amphetamine, but spiking in any concentration of bleach affected MDMA results, causing a slight increase. Vinegar did not affect the THC-COOH and amphetamine results. However, false-negative results were observed for MDMA, with high amounts of vinegar-spiked urine samples. Drain opener was added in large quantities, and false-negative results were observed for all analytes. Visine eye drops did not have any effect on THC-COOH or amphetamine, but a high quantity of eye drops had a slight decreasing effect for MDMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melike Aydoğdu
- Ege University, Institute on Drug Abuse, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science, Turkey
| | - Serap Annette Akgür
- Ege University, Institute on Drug Abuse, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science, Turkey
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21
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Kayser RR, Raskin M, Snorrason I, Hezel DM, Haney M, Simpson HB. Cannabinoid Augmentation of Exposure-Based Psychotherapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2020; 40:207-210. [PMID: 32068563 PMCID: PMC7206660 DOI: 10.1097/jcp.0000000000001179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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22
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Hassenberg C, Clausen F, Hoffmann G, Studer A, Schürenkamp J. Investigation of phase II metabolism of 11-hydroxy-Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and metabolite verification by chemical synthesis of 11-hydroxy-Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-glucuronide. Int J Legal Med 2020; 134:2105-2119. [PMID: 32808050 PMCID: PMC7578173 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-020-02387-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
(-)-Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol ((-)-Δ-9-THC) is the main psychoactive constituent in cannabis. During phase I metabolism, it is metabolized to (-)-11-hydroxy-Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol ((-)-11-OH-Δ-9-THC), which is psychoactive, and to (-)-11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol ((-)-Δ-9-THC-COOH), which is psychoinactive. It is glucuronidated during phase II metabolism. The biotransformation of (-)-Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-glucuronide ((-)-Δ-9-THC-Glc) and (-)-11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-glucuronide ((-)-Δ-9-THC-COOH-Glc) is well understood, which is mainly due to the availability of commercial reference standards. Since such a standardized reference is not yet available for (-)-11-hydroxy-Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-glucuronide ((-)-11-OH-Δ-9-THC-Glc), its biotransformation is harder to study and the nature of the glucuronide bonding-alcoholic and/or phenolic-remains unclear. Consequently, the aim of this study was to investigate the biotransformation of (-)-11-OH-Δ-9-THC-Glc in vitro as well as in vivo and to identify the glucuronide by chemically synthesis of a reference standard. For in vitro analysis, pooled human S9 liver fraction was incubated with (-)-Δ-9-THC. Resulting metabolites were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography system coupled to a high-resolution mass spectrometer (HPLC-HRMS) with heated electrospray ionization (HESI) in positive and negative full scan mode. Five different chromatographic peaks of OH-Δ-9-THC-Glc have been detected in HESI positive and negative mode, respectively. The experiment set up according to Wen et al. indicates the two main metabolites being an alcoholic and a phenolic glucuronide metabolite. In vivo analysis of urine (n = 10) and serum (n = 10) samples from cannabis users confirmed these two main metabolites. Thus, OH-Δ-9-THC is glucuronidated at either the phenolic or the alcoholic hydroxy group. A double glucuronidation was not observed. The alcoholic (-)-11-OH-Δ-9-THC-Glc was successfully chemically synthesized and identified the main alcoholic glucuronide in vitro and in vivo. (-)-11-OH-Δ-9-THC-Glc is the first reference standard for direct identification and quantification. This enables future research to answer the question whether phenolic or alcoholic glucuronidation forms the predominant way of metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Hassenberg
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Münster, Röntgenstr, 23, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Florian Clausen
- Organisch-Chemisches Institut, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstrasse 40, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Grete Hoffmann
- Organisch-Chemisches Institut, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstrasse 40, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Armido Studer
- Organisch-Chemisches Institut, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstrasse 40, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Jennifer Schürenkamp
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Münster, Röntgenstr, 23, 48149, Münster, Germany.
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Poyatos L, Pérez-Acevedo AP, Papaseit E, Pérez-Mañá C, Martin S, Hladun O, Siles A, Torrens M, Busardo FP, Farré M. Oral Administration of Cannabis and Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Preparations: A Systematic Review. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 56:medicina56060309. [PMID: 32585912 PMCID: PMC7353904 DOI: 10.3390/medicina56060309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Background and objective: Changes in cannabis legalization regimes in several countries have influenced the diversification of cannabis use. There is an ever-increasing number of cannabis forms available, which are gaining popularity for both recreational and therapeutic use. From a therapeutic perspective, oral cannabis containing Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) is a promising route of administration but there is still little information about its pharmacokinetics (PK) effects in humans. The purpose of this systematic review is to provide a general overview of the available PK data on cannabis and THC after oral administration. Materials and Methods: A search of the published literature was conducted using the PubMed database to collect available articles describing the PK data of THC after oral administration in humans. Results: The literature search yielded 363 results, 26 of which met our inclusion criteria. The PK of oral THC has been studied using capsules (including oil content), tablets, baked goods (brownies and cookies), and oil and tea (decoctions). Capsules and tablets, which mainly correspond to pharmaceutical forms, were found to be the oral formulations most commonly studied. Overall, the results reflect the high variability in the THC absorption of oral formulations, with delayed peak plasma concentrations compared to other routes of administration. Conclusions: Oral THC has a highly variable PK profile that differs between formulations, with seemingly higher variability in baked goods and oil forms. Overall, there is limited information available in this field. Therefore, further investigations are required to unravel the unpredictability of oral THC administration to increase the effectiveness and safety of oral formulations in medicinal use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lourdes Poyatos
- Clinical Pharmacology Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias (HUGTiP-IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain; (L.P.); (E.P.); (C.P.-M.); (S.M.); (O.H.); (M.F.)
- Departments of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology and Department of Psychiatry, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain;
| | - Ana Pilar Pérez-Acevedo
- Clinical Pharmacology Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias (HUGTiP-IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain; (L.P.); (E.P.); (C.P.-M.); (S.M.); (O.H.); (M.F.)
- Departments of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology and Department of Psychiatry, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-934978865
| | - Esther Papaseit
- Clinical Pharmacology Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias (HUGTiP-IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain; (L.P.); (E.P.); (C.P.-M.); (S.M.); (O.H.); (M.F.)
- Departments of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology and Department of Psychiatry, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain;
| | - Clara Pérez-Mañá
- Clinical Pharmacology Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias (HUGTiP-IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain; (L.P.); (E.P.); (C.P.-M.); (S.M.); (O.H.); (M.F.)
- Departments of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology and Department of Psychiatry, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain;
| | - Soraya Martin
- Clinical Pharmacology Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias (HUGTiP-IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain; (L.P.); (E.P.); (C.P.-M.); (S.M.); (O.H.); (M.F.)
| | - Olga Hladun
- Clinical Pharmacology Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias (HUGTiP-IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain; (L.P.); (E.P.); (C.P.-M.); (S.M.); (O.H.); (M.F.)
- Departments of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology and Department of Psychiatry, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain;
| | - Adrià Siles
- Pharmacy Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias (HUGTiP-IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain;
| | - Marta Torrens
- Departments of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology and Department of Psychiatry, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain;
- Drug Addiction Program, Institut de Neuropsiquiatria, Parc de Salut Mar and Institut Hospital del Mar de Recerca Mèdica (PSMAR-IMIM), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesco Paolo Busardo
- Department of Excellence-Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60121 Ancona, Italy;
| | - Magí Farré
- Clinical Pharmacology Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias (HUGTiP-IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain; (L.P.); (E.P.); (C.P.-M.); (S.M.); (O.H.); (M.F.)
- Departments of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology and Department of Psychiatry, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain;
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Abstract
Recently, it has been estimated that nearly 200 million people use marijuana with growing usage being attributed to the legalization and decriminalization of the drug around the world. A concerning implication of increased marijuana use is the alarming number of individuals who report driving under the influence of the drug, which has prompted the development of detection technologies. An electrochemical-based detection technology, akin to how the alcohol breathalyzer functions, would provide an attractive solution to this growing societal problem. The first step toward this goal is to develop a reaction that converts Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the primary psychoactive substance in marijuana, to a derivative with diagnostic spectroscopic changes. We report the development of a mild electrochemical method for the oxidation of Δ9-THC to its corresponding p-quinone isomer. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of the resultant quinone show a dramatic shift in comparison to Δ9-THC. This simple protocol provides the foundation for the development of an electrochemical-based marijuana breathalyzer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan R Darzi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1569, United States
| | - Neil K Garg
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1569, United States
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25
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Steve Pilling
- Centre for Outcomes, Research and Effectiveness, University College London, London, UK
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26
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Hu Y, Ranganathan M, Shu C, Liang X, Ganesh S, Osafo-Addo A, Yan C, Zhang X, Aouizerat BE, Krystal JH, D'Souza DC, Xu K. Single-cell Transcriptome Mapping Identifies Common and Cell-type Specific Genes Affected by Acute Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol in Humans. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3450. [PMID: 32103029 PMCID: PMC7044203 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59827-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is known to modulate immune response in peripheral blood cells. The mechanisms of THC's effects on gene expression in human immune cells remains poorly understood. Combining a within-subject design with single cell transcriptome mapping, we report that THC acutely alters gene expression in 15,973 blood cells. We identified 294 transcriptome-wide significant genes among eight cell types including 69 common genes and 225 cell-type-specific genes affected by THC administration, including those genes involving in immune response, cytokine production, cell proliferation and apoptosis. We revealed distinct transcriptomic sub-clusters affected by THC in major immune cell types where THC perturbed cell-type-specific intracellular gene expression correlations. Gene set enrichment analysis further supports the findings of THC's common and cell-type-specific effects on immune response and cell toxicity. This comprehensive single-cell transcriptomic profiling provides important insights into THC's acute effects on immune function that may have important medical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Hu
- Center for Biomedical Information and Information Technology, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Mohini Ranganathan
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, 300 George street, Suite 901, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- Connecticut Veteran Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA
| | - Chang Shu
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, 300 George street, Suite 901, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- Connecticut Veteran Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA
| | - Xiaoyu Liang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, 300 George street, Suite 901, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- Connecticut Veteran Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA
| | - Suhas Ganesh
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, 300 George street, Suite 901, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- Connecticut Veteran Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA
| | - Awo Osafo-Addo
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, 300 George street, Suite 901, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- Connecticut Veteran Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA
| | - Chunhua Yan
- Center for Biomedical Information and Information Technology, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, 300 George street, Suite 901, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- Connecticut Veteran Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA
| | - Bradley E Aouizerat
- Bluestone Center for Clinical Research, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, NY, 10010, USA
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, NY, 10010, USA
| | - John H Krystal
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, 300 George street, Suite 901, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- Connecticut Veteran Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA
| | - Deepak C D'Souza
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, 300 George street, Suite 901, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- Connecticut Veteran Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA
| | - Ke Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, 300 George street, Suite 901, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.
- Connecticut Veteran Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA.
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27
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Thapa D, Cairns EA, Szczesniak AM, Kulkarni PM, Straiker AJ, Thakur GA, Kelly MEM. Allosteric Cannabinoid Receptor 1 (CB1) Ligands Reduce Ocular Pain and Inflammation. Molecules 2020; 25:E417. [PMID: 31968549 PMCID: PMC7024337 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25020417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) activation has been reported to reduce transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1)-induced inflammatory responses and is anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory in corneal injury. We examined whether allosteric ligands, can modulate CB1 signaling to reduce pain and inflammation in corneal hyperalgesia. Corneal hyperalgesia was generated by chemical cauterization of cornea in wildtype and CB2 knockout (CB2-/-) mice. The novel racemic CB1 allosteric ligand GAT211 and its enantiomers GAT228 and GAT229 were examined alone or in combination with the orthosteric CB1 agonist Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC). Pain responses were assessed following capsaicin (1 µM) stimulation of injured corneas at 6 h post-cauterization. Corneal neutrophil infiltration was also analyzed. GAT228, but not GAT229 or GAT211, reduced pain scores in response to capsaicin stimulation. Combination treatments of 0.5% GAT229 or 1% GAT211 with subthreshold Δ8-THC (0.4%) significantly reduced pain scores following capsaicin stimulation. The anti-nociceptive effects of both GAT229 and GAT228 were blocked with CB1 antagonist AM251, but remained unaffected in CB2-/- mice. Two percent GAT228, or the combination of 0.2% Δ8-THC with 0.5% GAT229 also significantly reduced corneal inflammation. CB1 allosteric ligands could offer a novel approach for treating corneal pain and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinesh Thapa
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Elizabeth A. Cairns
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | | | - Pushkar M. Kulkarni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Alex J. Straiker
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Ganesh A. Thakur
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Melanie E. M. Kelly
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
- Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
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Herrmann N, Ruthirakuhan M, Gallagher D, Verhoeff NPLG, Kiss A, Black SE, Lanctôt KL. Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Nabilone for Agitation in Alzheimer's Disease. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2019; 27:1161-1173. [PMID: 31182351 DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2019.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the efficacy and safety of nabilone for agitation in patients with moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease (AD). DESIGN This 14-week randomized double-blind crossover trial compared nabilone to placebo (6 weeks each) with a 1-week washout between phases. SETTING Patients were recruited from a long-term care facility and geriatric psychiatry clinics. PARTICIPANTS Patients had AD (standardized Mini-Mental State Examination [sMMSE ≤24]) and agitation (Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Home version [NPI-NH]-agitation/aggression subscore ≥3). INTERVENTION Nabilone (target 1-2 mg) versus placebo. MEASUREMENTS The primary outcome was agitation (Cohen Mansfield Agitation Inventory [CMAI]). Secondary outcomes included NPI-NH total, NPI-NH caregiver distress, cognition (sMMSE and Severe Impairment Battery [SIB] or Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale of Cognition), global impression (Clinician's Global Impression of Change [CGIC]), and adverse events. RESULTS Thirty-nine patients (mean ± SD age = 87 ± 10, sMMSE = 6.5 ± 6.8, CMAI = 67.9 ± 17.6, NPI-NH total = 34.3 ± 15.8, 77% male, nabilone dose = 1.6 ± 0.5 mg) were randomized. There were no crossover or treatment-order effects. Using a linear mixed model, treatment differences (95% CI) in CMAI (b = -4.0 [-6.5 to -1.5], t(30.2) = -3.3, p = 0.003), NPI-NH total (b = -4.6 [-7.5 to -1.6], t(32.9) = -3.1, p = 0.004), NPI-NH caregiver distress (b = -1.7 [-3.4 to -0.07, t(33.7) = -2.1, p = 0.041), and sMMSE (b = 1.1 [0.1-2.0], t(22.6) = 2.4, p = 0.026) all favored nabilone. However, in those who completed the SIB (n = 25) treatment differences favored placebo (b = -4.6 [-7.3 to -1.8], t(20.7) = -4.8, p = 0.003). CGIC improvement during nabilone (47%) and placebo (23%) was not significantly different (McNemar's test, exact p = 0.09). There was more sedation during nabilone (45%) compared to placebo (16%) phases (McNemar's test, exact p = 0.02), but treatment-limiting sedation was not significantly different (McNemar's test, exact p = 0.22). CONCLUSIONS Nabilone may be an effective treatment for agitation. However, sedation and cognition should be closely monitored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Herrmann
- Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Myuri Ruthirakuhan
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Damien Gallagher
- Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Alex Kiss
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sandra E Black
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Krista L Lanctôt
- Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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29
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Yousefi-Taemeh M, Ifa DR. Analysis of tetrahydrocannabinol derivative from cannabis-infused chocolate by QuEChERS-thin layer chromatography-desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. J Mass Spectrom 2019; 54:834-842. [PMID: 31498519 DOI: 10.1002/jms.4436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Recently in Canada and some states of the United States, marijuana (cannabis) has become fully legalized and regulated, for both medical and recreational purposes. This fact is going to make cannabis products such as edibles even more popular than ever before. Therefore, it is assumed that there will be a high demand for analytical methods, which are accurate and sensitive enough to be used in different forensic and pharmaceutical cannabis-related applications. Cannabis derivatives have an extreme range and number of constituents with possible interactions with one another. Thus, this characteristic leads to their vast and highly complex chemistry, which requires robust analytical tools to be able to precisely and accurately quantify and qualify them. We developed and validated an analytical method using desorption electrospray ionization (DESI)-mass spectrometry (MS) to accurately detect, characterize, and quantify cannabinoids and also offer an easy, cost-effective, and reliable technique, which can be performed in a short time for infused edibles in complex matrices such as chocolate. We evaluated a quantitative analysis of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in cannabis-infused chocolate with thin-layer chromatography (TLC)-DESI-MS and QuEChERS extraction method. Both techniques of TLC and QuEChERS are cost-effective and can be run in short time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Yousefi-Taemeh
- Centre for Research in Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Demian R Ifa
- Centre for Research in Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada
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30
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Kumar A, Premoli M, Aria F, Bonini SA, Maccarinelli G, Gianoncelli A, Memo M, Mastinu A. Cannabimimetic plants: are they new cannabinoidergic modulators? Planta 2019; 249:1681-1694. [PMID: 30877436 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-019-03138-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Phytochemicals and secondary metabolites able to interact with the endocannabinoid system (Cannabimimetics) have been recently described in a broad range of plants and fruits. These findings can open new alternative avenues to explore for the development of novel therapeutic compounds. The cannabinoids regulate many physiological and pathological functions in both animals and plants. Cannabis sativa is the main plant that produces phytocannabinoids inside resins capable to defend the plant from the aggression of parasites and herbivores. Animals produce anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol, which thanks to binding with main receptors such as type-1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) and the type-2 cannabinoid receptor (CB2R) are involved in inflammation processes and several brain functions. Endogenous cannabinoids, enzymes for synthesis and degradation of cannabinoids, and CB1R and CB2R constitute the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Other plants can produce cannabinoid-like molecules such as perrottetinene extracted from Radula perrottetii, or anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol extracted from some bryophytes. Moreover, several other secondary metabolites can also interact with the ECS of animals and take the name of cannabimimetics. These phytoextracts not derived from Cannabis sativa can act as receptor agonists or antagonist, or enzyme inhibitors of ECS and can be involved in the inflammation, oxidative stress, cancer, and neuroprotection. Finally, given the evolutionary heterogeneity of the cannabimimetic plants, some authors speculated on the fascinating thesis of the evolutionary convergence between plants and animals regarding biological functions of ECS. The review aims to provide a critical and complete assessment of the botanical, chemical and therapeutic aspects of cannabimimetic plants to evaluate their spread in the world and medicinal potentiality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Blickagången 16, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Marika Premoli
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Aria
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, Brescia, Italy
| | - Sara Anna Bonini
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Maccarinelli
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandra Gianoncelli
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, Brescia, Italy
| | - Maurizio Memo
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, Brescia, Italy
| | - Andrea Mastinu
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, Brescia, Italy.
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31
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Chiavola A, Boni MR, Di Marcantonio C, Cecchini G, Biagioli S, Frugis A. A laboratory-study on the analytical determination and removal processes of THC-COOH and bezoylecgonine in the activated sludge reactor. Chemosphere 2019; 222:83-90. [PMID: 30690404 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.01.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The present study focused on 11-nor-9carboxy-Δ9-THC (THC-COOH) and Benzoylecgonine (BE), the most common metabolites of cannabis and cocaine, respectively, present in the domestic sewage entering the wastewater treatment plants. The aims of the study were: (1) to validate the analytical method of detection in wastewater and sludge; (2) to determine contribution of biodegradation and other processes to the removal in the biological reactor of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and the response of biomass to different drug concentrations. The Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to tandem Mass Spectrometry method showed to be repeatable and reliable (recovery>75%; repeatability<10-15%; bias uncertainty<10) for measurements in wastewater; the ultrasound assisted extraction (USE) demonstrated to be reliable as pre-treatment of activated sludge solid phase. Both drugs were fully removed from the liquid phase in the lab-scale biological reactor within 24 h. Biodegradation was the main BE removal mechanism, and the first order kinetic model provided the best fitting of the experimental data. THC-COOH was mainly removed due to a combination of adsorption and biodegradation; adsorption was better described by the pseudo-second order kinetic model and the Freundlich isotherm. Both drugs at the higher concentrations caused inhibition of nitrogen oxidation and carbon removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agostina Chiavola
- Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Civil, Constructional and Environmental Engineering (DICEA), Via Eudossiana 18, 00184, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Boni
- Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Civil, Constructional and Environmental Engineering (DICEA), Via Eudossiana 18, 00184, Rome, Italy
| | - Camilla Di Marcantonio
- Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Civil, Constructional and Environmental Engineering (DICEA), Via Eudossiana 18, 00184, Rome, Italy.
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Patilea-Vrana GI, Anoshchenko O, Unadkat JD. Hepatic Enzymes Relevant to the Disposition of (-)-∆ 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Its Psychoactive Metabolite, 11-OH-THC. Drug Metab Dispos 2019; 47:249-256. [PMID: 30567877 PMCID: PMC6374540 DOI: 10.1124/dmd.118.085548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Marijuana use by pregnant women is increasing. To predict developmental risk to the fetus/neonate from such use, in utero fetal exposure to (-)-∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive cannabinoid in marijuana and its active psychoactive metabolite, 11-hydroxy-∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-THC), needs to be determined. Since such measurement is not possible, physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling and simulation can provide an alternative method to estimate fetal exposure to cannabinoids. To do so, pharmacokinetic parameters for the disposition of THC and 11-OH-THC need to be elucidated. Here, we report a first step to estimate these parameters, namely, those related to maternal metabolism of THC/11-OH-THC in human liver microsomes (HLMs) at plasma concentrations observed after smoking marijuana. Using recombinant cytochrome P450 (P450) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzymes, CYP1A1, 1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 3A4, 3A5, 3A7, and UGT1A9 and UGT2B7 were found to be involved in the disposition of THC/11-OH-THC. Using pooled HLMs, the fraction metabolized (f m) by relevant enzymes was measured using selective enzyme inhibitors, and then adjusted for enzyme cross-inhibition. As previously reported, CYP2C9 was the major enzyme responsible for depletion of THC and formation of 11-OH-THC with f m values of 0.82 ± 0.08 and 0.99 ± 0.10, respectively (mean ± S.D.), while CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 were minor contributors. 11-OH-THC was depleted by UGT and P450 enzymes with f m values of 0.60 ± 0.05 and 0.40 ± 0.05, respectively (mean ± S.D.), with UGT2B7, UGT1A9, CYP2C9, and CYP3A4 as contributors. These mechanistic data represent the first set of drug-dependent parameters necessary to predict maternal-fetal cannabinoid exposure during pregnancy using PBPK modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olena Anoshchenko
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Jashvant D Unadkat
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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Dinis-Oliveira RJ. [The Clinical Toxicology Perspective on the Therapeutic Use of Cannabis and Cannabinoids]. ACTA MEDICA PORT 2019; 32:87-90. [PMID: 30896388 DOI: 10.20344/amp.10896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira
- Department of Public Health and Forensic Sciences, and Medical Education. Faculty of Medicine. University of Porto. Porto; Institute of Research and Advanced Training in Health Sciences and Technologies. Department of Sciences. University Institute of Health Sciences. Gandra; Laboratory of Toxicology. Department of Biological Sciences. Faculty of Pharmacy. University of Porto. Porto
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Li Y, Zhang L, Wu Y, Zheng Q, Chen M, Qian Z, Wei C, Han J, Liu Z, Ren W, Liu Y. Cannabinoids-induced peripheral analgesia depends on activation of BK channels. Brain Res 2019; 1711:23-28. [PMID: 30615887 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The endogenous cannabinoid system is involved in the physiological inhibitory control of pain and is of particular interest for the development of therapeutic approaches for pain management. Selective activation of the peripheral CB1 cannabinoid receptor has been shown to suppress the heightened firing of primary afferents, which is the peripheral mechanism underlying neuropathic pain after nerve injury. However, the mechanism underlying this effect of CB1 receptor remains unclear. The large-conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels have been reported to participate in anticonvulsant and vasorelaxant effects of cannabinoids. We asked whether BK channels participate in cannabinoids-induced analgesia and firing-suppressing effects in primary afferents after nerve injury. Here, using mice with chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced neuropathic pain, antinociception action and firing-suppressing effect of HU210 were measured before and after BK channel blocker application. We found that local peripheral application of HU210 alleviated CCI-induced pain behavior and suppressed the heightened firing of injured fibers. Co-administration of IBTX with HU210 significantly reversed the analgesia and the firing-suppressing effect of HU210. This result indicated that the peripheral analgesic effects of cannabinoids depends on activation of BK channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongfeng Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Center for Teacher Professional Ability Development, Shaanxi Normal University, 199 South Chang'an Road, Xi'an 710062, China
| | - Leili Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Center for Teacher Professional Ability Development, Shaanxi Normal University, 199 South Chang'an Road, Xi'an 710062, China
| | - Yuwei Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Center for Teacher Professional Ability Development, Shaanxi Normal University, 199 South Chang'an Road, Xi'an 710062, China
| | - Qiaohua Zheng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Center for Teacher Professional Ability Development, Shaanxi Normal University, 199 South Chang'an Road, Xi'an 710062, China
| | - Mengjiao Chen
- School of Physics & Information Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, 620 West Chang'an Avenue, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Zhaoqiang Qian
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Center for Teacher Professional Ability Development, Shaanxi Normal University, 199 South Chang'an Road, Xi'an 710062, China
| | - Chunling Wei
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Center for Teacher Professional Ability Development, Shaanxi Normal University, 199 South Chang'an Road, Xi'an 710062, China
| | - Jing Han
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Center for Teacher Professional Ability Development, Shaanxi Normal University, 199 South Chang'an Road, Xi'an 710062, China
| | - Zhiqiang Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Center for Teacher Professional Ability Development, Shaanxi Normal University, 199 South Chang'an Road, Xi'an 710062, China
| | - Wei Ren
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Center for Teacher Professional Ability Development, Shaanxi Normal University, 199 South Chang'an Road, Xi'an 710062, China
| | - Yihui Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Center for Teacher Professional Ability Development, Shaanxi Normal University, 199 South Chang'an Road, Xi'an 710062, China.
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Chicca A, Schafroth MA, Reynoso-Moreno I, Erni R, Petrucci V, Carreira EM, Gertsch J. Uncovering the psychoactivity of a cannabinoid from liverworts associated with a legal high. Sci Adv 2018; 4:eaat2166. [PMID: 30397641 PMCID: PMC6200358 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aat2166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Phytochemical studies on the liverwort Radula genus have previously identified the bibenzyl (-)-cis-perrottetinene (cis-PET), which structurally resembles (-)-Δ9-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-trans-THC) from Cannabis sativa L. Radula preparations are sold as cannabinoid-like legal high on the internet, even though pharmacological data are lacking. Herein, we describe a versatile total synthesis of (-)-cis-PET and its (-)-trans diastereoisomer and demonstrate that both molecules readily penetrate the brain and induce hypothermia, catalepsy, hypolocomotion, and analgesia in a CB1 receptor-dependent manner in mice. The natural product (-)-cis-PET was profiled on major brain receptors, showing a selective cannabinoid pharmacology. This study also uncovers pharmacological differences between Δ9-THC and PET diastereoisomers. Most notably, (-)-cis-PET and (-)-trans-PET significantly reduced basal brain prostaglandin levels associated with Δ9-trans-THC side effects in a CB1 receptor-dependent manner, thus mimicking the action of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol. Therefore, the natural product (-)-cis-PET is a psychoactive cannabinoid from bryophytes, illustrating the existence of convergent evolution of bioactive cannabinoids in the plant kingdom. Our findings may have implications for bioprospecting and drug discovery and provide a molecular rationale for the reported effects upon consumption of certain Radula preparations as moderately active legal highs.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Chicca
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - M. A. Schafroth
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - I. Reynoso-Moreno
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - R. Erni
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - V. Petrucci
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - E. M. Carreira
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - J. Gertsch
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
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Abstract
In order to study the course of optic nerve degeneration and devise possible ways to achieve neuroprotection, a well-controlled, animal model of partial crush injury of the optic nerve was used. Following the controlled partial crush injury of the rat optic nerve, quantitative morphological and electrophysiological measurements were made of primary and secondary neuronal losses. The neuroprotective effects of NMDA-receptor antagonists and α2-adrenoreceptor agonists were also studied. The results suggested that the ongoing progression of the optic nerve degeneration in glaucoma might be a consequence of the toxic extracellular environment produced by neurons that degenerate as a result of the primary cause of the disease (such as increased IOP).
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Affiliation(s)
- M Schwartz
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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Meng Q, Buchanan B, Zuccolo J, Poulin MM, Gabriele J, Baranowski DC. A reliable and validated LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of 4 cannabinoids in 40 consumer products. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196396. [PMID: 29718956 PMCID: PMC5931681 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In the past 50 years, Cannabis sativa (C. sativa) has gone from a substance essentially prohibited worldwide to one that is gaining acceptance both culturally and legally in many countries for medicinal and recreational use. As additional jurisdictions legalize Cannabis products and the variety and complexity of these products surpass the classical dried plant material, appropriate methods for measuring the biologically active constituents is paramount to ensure safety and regulatory compliance. While there are numerous active compounds in C. sativa the primary cannabinoids of regulatory and safety concern are (-)-Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and their respective acidic forms THCA-A and CBDA. Using the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bioanalytical method validation guidelines we developed a sensitive, selective, and accurate method for the simultaneous analysis CBD, CBDA, THC, and THCA-A in oils and THC & CBD in more complex matrices. This HPLC-MS/MS method was simple and reliable using standard sample dilution and homogenization, an isocratic chromatographic separation, and a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) for analytes was 0.195 ng/mL over a 0.195-50.0 ng/mL range of quantification with a coefficient of correlation of >0.99. Average intra-day and inter-day accuracies were 94.2-112.7% and 97.2-110.9%, respectively. This method was used to quantify CBD, CBDA, THC, and THCA-A in 40 commercial hemp products representing a variety of matrices including oils, plant materials, and creams/cosmetics. All products tested met the federal regulatory restrictions on THC content in Canada (<10 μg/g) except two, with concentrations of 337 and 10.01 μg/g. With respect to CBD, the majority of analyzed products contained low CBD levels and a CBD: CBDA ratio of <1.0. In contrast, one product contained 8,410 μg/g CBD and a CBD: CBDA ratio of >1,000 (an oil-based product). Overall, the method proved amenable to the analysis of various commercial products including oils, creams, and plant material and may be diagnostically indicative of adulteration with non-hemp C. sativa, specialized hemp cultivars, or unique manufacturing methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingfang Meng
- Research and Development, Delivra Corp., Charlottetown, PE, Canada
| | - Beth Buchanan
- Research and Development, Delivra Corp., Charlottetown, PE, Canada
| | - Jonathan Zuccolo
- Research and Development, Delivra Corp., Charlottetown, PE, Canada
| | | | - Joseph Gabriele
- Research and Development, Delivra Corp., Charlottetown, PE, Canada
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Abstract
BACKGROUND This review is one of a series on drugs used to treat chronic neuropathic pain. Estimates of the population prevalence of chronic pain with neuropathic components range between 6% and 10%. Current pharmacological treatment options for neuropathic pain afford substantial benefit for only a few people, often with adverse effects that outweigh the benefits. There is a need to explore other treatment options, with different mechanisms of action for treatment of conditions with chronic neuropathic pain. Cannabis has been used for millennia to reduce pain. Herbal cannabis is currently strongly promoted by some patients and their advocates to treat any type of chronic pain. OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of cannabis-based medicines (herbal, plant-derived, synthetic) compared to placebo or conventional drugs for conditions with chronic neuropathic pain in adults. SEARCH METHODS In November 2017 we searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and two trials registries for published and ongoing trials, and examined the reference lists of reviewed articles. SELECTION CRITERIA We selected randomised, double-blind controlled trials of medical cannabis, plant-derived and synthetic cannabis-based medicines against placebo or any other active treatment of conditions with chronic neuropathic pain in adults, with a treatment duration of at least two weeks and at least 10 participants per treatment arm. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Three review authors independently extracted data of study characteristics and outcomes of efficacy, tolerability and safety, examined issues of study quality, and assessed risk of bias. We resolved discrepancies by discussion. For efficacy, we calculated the number needed to treat for an additional beneficial outcome (NNTB) for pain relief of 30% and 50% or greater, patient's global impression to be much or very much improved, dropout rates due to lack of efficacy, and the standardised mean differences for pain intensity, sleep problems, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and psychological distress. For tolerability, we calculated number needed to treat for an additional harmful outcome (NNTH) for withdrawal due to adverse events and specific adverse events, nervous system disorders and psychiatric disorders. For safety, we calculated NNTH for serious adverse events. Meta-analysis was undertaken using a random-effects model. We assessed the quality of evidence using GRADE and created a 'Summary of findings' table. MAIN RESULTS We included 16 studies with 1750 participants. The studies were 2 to 26 weeks long and compared an oromucosal spray with a plant-derived combination of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) (10 studies), a synthetic cannabinoid mimicking THC (nabilone) (two studies), inhaled herbal cannabis (two studies) and plant-derived THC (dronabinol) (two studies) against placebo (15 studies) and an analgesic (dihydrocodeine) (one study). We used the Cochrane 'Risk of bias' tool to assess study quality. We defined studies with zero to two unclear or high risks of bias judgements to be high-quality studies, with three to five unclear or high risks of bias to be moderate-quality studies, and with six to eight unclear or high risks of bias to be low-quality studies. Study quality was low in two studies, moderate in 12 studies and high in two studies. Nine studies were at high risk of bias for study size. We rated the quality of the evidence according to GRADE as very low to moderate.Primary outcomesCannabis-based medicines may increase the number of people achieving 50% or greater pain relief compared with placebo (21% versus 17%; risk difference (RD) 0.05 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.00 to 0.09); NNTB 20 (95% CI 11 to 100); 1001 participants, eight studies, low-quality evidence). We rated the evidence for improvement in Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) with cannabis to be of very low quality (26% versus 21%;RD 0.09 (95% CI 0.01 to 0.17); NNTB 11 (95% CI 6 to 100); 1092 participants, six studies). More participants withdrew from the studies due to adverse events with cannabis-based medicines (10% of participants) than with placebo (5% of participants) (RD 0.04 (95% CI 0.02 to 0.07); NNTH 25 (95% CI 16 to 50); 1848 participants, 13 studies, moderate-quality evidence). We did not have enough evidence to determine if cannabis-based medicines increase the frequency of serious adverse events compared with placebo (RD 0.01 (95% CI -0.01 to 0.03); 1876 participants, 13 studies, low-quality evidence).Secondary outcomesCannabis-based medicines probably increase the number of people achieving pain relief of 30% or greater compared with placebo (39% versus 33%; RD 0.09 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.15); NNTB 11 (95% CI 7 to 33); 1586 participants, 10 studies, moderate quality evidence). Cannabis-based medicines may increase nervous system adverse events compared with placebo (61% versus 29%; RD 0.38 (95% CI 0.18 to 0.58); NNTH 3 (95% CI 2 to 6); 1304 participants, nine studies, low-quality evidence). Psychiatric disorders occurred in 17% of participants using cannabis-based medicines and in 5% using placebo (RD 0.10 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.15); NNTH 10 (95% CI 7 to 16); 1314 participants, nine studies, low-quality evidence).We found no information about long-term risks in the studies analysed.Subgroup analysesWe are uncertain whether herbal cannabis reduces mean pain intensity (very low-quality evidence). Herbal cannabis and placebo did not differ in tolerability (very low-quality evidence). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS The potential benefits of cannabis-based medicine (herbal cannabis, plant-derived or synthetic THC, THC/CBD oromucosal spray) in chronic neuropathic pain might be outweighed by their potential harms. The quality of evidence for pain relief outcomes reflects the exclusion of participants with a history of substance abuse and other significant comorbidities from the studies, together with their small sample sizes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Mücke
- Department of Palliative Medicine, University Hospital of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, Bonn, Germany, 53127
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Gatch MB, Forster MJ. Δ 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol-like discriminative stimulus effects of five novel synthetic cannabinoids in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2018; 235:673-680. [PMID: 29138877 PMCID: PMC5823726 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-017-4783-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES Novel synthetic cannabinoid compounds continue to appear in the market advertised as legal alternatives to marijuana and the older synthetic cannabinoid compounds which are now controlled substances. Most of these newer compounds have been found to act at CB1 receptors, so the purpose of this study was to study the abuse liability of these compounds. METHODS Five of these compounds (BB-22, FUB-PB-22, 5F-AMB, NM2201, and MAB-CHMINACA) were tested for their ability to produce discriminative stimulus effects similar to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) in rats. The ability of the CB1 receptor inverse agonist rimonabant to antagonize the discriminative stimulus effects of the five test compounds was also tested. RESULTS All five of the test compounds fully substituted for the discriminative stimulus effects of Δ9-THC at some dose, although MAB-CHMINACA produced an inverted U-shaped dose effect. Rimonabant fully antagonized the Δ9-THC-like discriminative stimulus effects of BB-22, 5F-AMB, NM2201, and MAB-CHMINACA but only reduced the effects of FUB-PB-22 to 40-50 % of Δ9-THC-appropriate responding. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that all five of the test compounds produced Δ9-THC-like effects and will likely have abuse liability similar to that of the controlled cannabinoid compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael B Gatch
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX, 76107-2699, USA.
| | - Michael J Forster
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX, 76107-2699, USA
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Abstract
An advanced Mendelian Cannabis breeding program has been developed utilizing chemical markers to maximize the yield of phytocannabinoids and terpenoids with the aim to improve therapeutic efficacy and safety. Cannabis is often divided into several categories based on cannabinoid content. Type I, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol-predominant, is the prevalent offering in both medical and recreational marketplaces. In recent years, the therapeutic benefits of cannabidiol have been better recognized, leading to the promotion of additional chemovars: Type II, Cannabis that contains both Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, and cannabidiol-predominant Type III Cannabis. While high-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and high-myrcene chemovars dominate markets, these may not be optimal for patients who require distinct chemical profiles to achieve symptomatic relief. Type II Cannabis chemovars that display cannabidiol- and terpenoid-rich profiles have the potential to improve both efficacy and minimize adverse events associated with Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol exposure. Cannabis samples were analyzed for cannabinoid and terpenoid content, and analytical results are presented via PhytoFacts, a patent-pending method of graphically displaying phytocannabinoid and terpenoid content, as well as scent, taste, and subjective therapeutic effect data. Examples from the breeding program are highlighted and include Type I, II, and III Cannabis chemovars, those highly potent in terpenoids in general, or single components, for example, limonene, pinene, terpinolene, and linalool. Additionally, it is demonstrated how Type I - III chemovars have been developed with conserved terpenoid proportions. Specific chemovars may produce enhanced analgesia, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, and anti-anxiety effects, while simultaneously reducing sequelae of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol such as panic, toxic psychosis, and short-term memory impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ethan B Russo
- International Cannabis and Cannabinoids Institute, Prague, Czech Republic
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Mantovani CDC, Silva JPE, Forster G, Almeida RMD, Diniz EMDA, Yonamine M. Simultaneous accelerated solvent extraction and hydrolysis of 11-nor-Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid glucuronide in meconium samples for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2018; 1074-1075:1-7. [PMID: 29329090 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2018.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Cannabis misuse during pregnancy is associated with severe impacts on the mother and baby health, such as newborn low birth weight, growth restriction, pre-term birth, neurobehavioral and developmental deficits. In most of the cases, drug abuse is omitted or denied by the mothers. Thus, toxicological analyzes using maternal-fetal matrices takes place as a suitable tool to assess drug use. Herein, meconium was the chosen matrix to evaluate cannabis exposure through identification and quantification of 11-nor-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic (THCCOOH). Accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) was applied for sample preparation technique to simultaneously extract and hydrolyze conjugated THCCOOH from meconium, followed by a solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure. The method was developed and validated for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), reaching hydrolysis efficiency of 98%. Limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were, respectively, 5 and 10 ng/g. The range of linearity was LOQ to 500 ng/g. Inter and intra-batch coefficients of variation were <8.4% for all concentration levels. Accuracy was in 101.7-108.9% range. Recovery was on average 60.3%. Carryover effect was not observed. The procedure was applied in six meconium samples from babies whose mothers were drug users and showed satisfactory performance to confirm fetal cannabis exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinthia de Carvalho Mantovani
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 580, 13B, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Jefferson Pereira E Silva
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 580, 13B, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Guilherme Forster
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 580, 13B, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Rafael Menck de Almeida
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 580, 13B, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Mauricio Yonamine
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 580, 13B, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Nadal X, del Río C, Casano S, Palomares B, Ferreiro‐Vera C, Navarrete C, Sánchez‐Carnerero C, Cantarero I, Bellido ML, Meyer S, Morello G, Appendino G, Muñoz E. Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid is a potent PPARγ agonist with neuroprotective activity. Br J Pharmacol 2017; 174:4263-4276. [PMID: 28853159 PMCID: PMC5731255 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Revised: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Phytocannabinoids are produced in Cannabis sativa L. in acidic form and are decarboxylated upon heating, processing and storage. While the biological effects of decarboxylated cannabinoids such as Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol have been extensively investigated, the bioactivity of Δ9 -tetahydrocannabinol acid (Δ9 -THCA) is largely unknown, despite its occurrence in different Cannabis preparations. Here we have assessed possible neuroprotective actions of Δ9 -THCA through modulation of PPARγ pathways. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The effects of six phytocannabinoids on PPARγ binding and transcriptional activity were investigated. The effect of Δ9 -THCA on mitochondrial biogenesis and PPARγ coactivator 1-α expression was investigated in Neuro-2a (N2a) cells. The neuroprotective effect was analysed in STHdhQ111/Q111 cells expressing a mutated form of the huntingtin protein and in N2a cells infected with an adenovirus carrying human huntingtin containing 94 polyQ repeats (mHtt-q94). The in vivo neuroprotective activity of Δ9 -THCA was investigated in mice intoxicated with the mitochondrial toxin 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NPA). KEY RESULTS Cannabinoid acids bind and activate PPARγ with higher potency than their decarboxylated products. Δ9 -THCA increased mitochondrial mass in neuroblastoma N2a cells and prevented cytotoxicity induced by serum deprivation in STHdhQ111/Q111 cells and by mutHtt-q94 in N2a cells. Δ9 -THCA, through a PPARγ-dependent pathway, was neuroprotective in mice treated with 3-NPA, improving motor deficits and preventing striatal degeneration. In addition, Δ9 -THCA attenuated microgliosis, astrogliosis and up-regulation of proinflammatory markers induced by 3-NPA. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Δ9 -THCA shows potent neuroprotective activity, which is worth considering for the treatment of Huntington's disease and possibly other neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carmen del Río
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba, Departamento de Biología Celular, Fisiología e InmunologíaHospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Universidad de CórdobaCórdobaSpain
| | | | - Belén Palomares
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba, Departamento de Biología Celular, Fisiología e InmunologíaHospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Universidad de CórdobaCórdobaSpain
| | | | | | | | - Irene Cantarero
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba, Departamento de Biología Celular, Fisiología e InmunologíaHospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Universidad de CórdobaCórdobaSpain
| | | | | | | | - Giovanni Appendino
- Dipartimento di Scienze del FarmacoUniversità del Piemonte OrientaleNovaraItaly
| | - Eduardo Muñoz
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba, Departamento de Biología Celular, Fisiología e InmunologíaHospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Universidad de CórdobaCórdobaSpain
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Mackie AL, Park YR, Gagnon GA. Chlorination Kinetics of 11-Nor-9-carboxy-Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol: Effects of pH and Humic Acid. Environ Sci Technol 2017; 51:10711-10717. [PMID: 28806081 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b02234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The main psychoactive compound in marijuana, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and its metabolites are emerging organic contaminants that have been detected in waste and surface waters. As legalization of marijuana for medical and recreational use continues, the effects of increased use and potency of marijuana on water and wastewater treatment processes and the environment should be considered. This study examined degradation kinetics of the main urinary metabolite of THC, 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) with chlorine. THC-COOH was rapidly removed from both deionized (DI) water at pH 5.6 ± 0.2 and Suwannee River humic acid (SRHA) at pH 5.1 ± 0.2 using low doses of chlorine (0.1 to 0.50 mg free Cl2/L), with half-lives calculated from second-order kinetics constants (k2) of 8 s for DI and 42 s for DI with SRHA. Kinetic rates increased with an increase in pH from 5 to 9 in both DI water and SRHA and no interference from phosphate was observed. The chlorination pathway of electrophilic substitution of Cl at the ortho or para position of the phenol structure of THC-COOH was confirmed by detection of monochlorinated byproduct fragmentation ions using flow injection analysis with orbitrap mass spectrometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison L Mackie
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Dalhousie University , PO Box 15000, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada , B3H 4R2
| | - Yu Ri Park
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Dalhousie University , PO Box 15000, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada , B3H 4R2
| | - Graham A Gagnon
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Dalhousie University , PO Box 15000, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada , B3H 4R2
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Chia CW, Carlson OD, Liu DD, González-Mariscal I, Santa-Cruz Calvo S, Egan JM. Incretin secretion in humans is under the influence of cannabinoid receptors. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2017; 313:E359-E366. [PMID: 28655715 PMCID: PMC5625085 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00080.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The mechanisms regulating incretin secretion are not fully known. Human obesity is associated with altered incretin secretion and elevated endocannabinoid levels. Since cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) are expressed on incretin-secreting cells in rodents, we hypothesized that endocannabinoids are involved in the regulation of incretin secretion. We compared plasma glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) responses during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in 20 lean and 20 obese participants from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA). Next, we recruited 20 healthy men to evaluate GIP and GLP-1 responses during OGTT after administering placebo or nabilone (CBR agonist) in a randomized, double-blind, crossover fashion. Compared with the BLSA lean group, the BLSA obese group had significantly higher fasting and post-OGTT GIP levels, but similar fasting GLP-1 and significantly lower post-OGTT GLP-1 levels. In the nabilone vs. placebo study, when compared with placebo, nabilone resulted in significantly elevated post-dose fasting GIP levels and post-OGTT GIP levels, but no change in post-dose fasting GLP-1 levels together with significantly lower post-OGTT GLP-1 levels. Glucose levels were not different with both interventions. We conclude that elevated GIP levels in obesity are likely a consequence of increased endocannabinoid levels. CBRs exert tonic control over GIP secretion, which may have a homeostatic effect in suppressing GLP-1 secretion. This raises the possibility that gut hormones are influenced by endocannabinoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chee W Chia
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Olga D Carlson
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - David D Liu
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Isabel González-Mariscal
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Sara Santa-Cruz Calvo
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Josephine M Egan
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
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45
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Hua T, Vemuri K, Nikas SP, Laprairie RB, Wu Y, Qu L, Pu M, Korde A, Jiang S, Ho JH, Han GW, Ding K, Li X, Liu H, Hanson MA, Zhao S, Bohn LM, Makriyannis A, Stevens RC, Liu ZJ. Crystal structures of agonist-bound human cannabinoid receptor CB 1. Nature 2017; 547:468-471. [PMID: 28678776 PMCID: PMC5793864 DOI: 10.1038/nature23272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 315] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) is the principal target of the psychoactive constituent of marijuana, the partial agonist Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC). Here we report two agonist-bound crystal structures of human CB1 in complex with a tetrahydrocannabinol (AM11542) and a hexahydrocannabinol (AM841) at 2.80 Å and 2.95 Å resolution, respectively. The two CB1-agonist complexes reveal important conformational changes in the overall structure, relative to the antagonist-bound state, including a 53% reduction in the volume of the ligand-binding pocket and an increase in the surface area of the G-protein-binding region. In addition, a 'twin toggle switch' of Phe2003.36 and Trp3566.48 (superscripts denote Ballesteros-Weinstein numbering) is experimentally observed and appears to be essential for receptor activation. The structures reveal important insights into the activation mechanism of CB1 and provide a molecular basis for predicting the binding modes of Δ9-THC, and endogenous and synthetic cannabinoids. The plasticity of the binding pocket of CB1 seems to be a common feature among certain class A G-protein-coupled receptors. These findings should inspire the design of chemically diverse ligands with distinct pharmacological properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Hua
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Kiran Vemuri
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Spyros P Nikas
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Robert B Laprairie
- Departments of Molecular Medicine and Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA
| | - Yiran Wu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Lu Qu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Mengchen Pu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Anisha Korde
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Shan Jiang
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Jo-Hao Ho
- Departments of Molecular Medicine and Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA
| | - Gye Won Han
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Bridge Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA
| | - Kang Ding
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xuanxuan Li
- Complex Systems Division, Beijing Computational Science Research Center, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Haiguang Liu
- Complex Systems Division, Beijing Computational Science Research Center, Beijing 100193, China
| | | | - Suwen Zhao
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Laura M Bohn
- Departments of Molecular Medicine and Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA
| | - Alexandros Makriyannis
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Raymond C Stevens
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Bridge Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Zhi-Jie Liu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
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46
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Affiliation(s)
- David Nutt
- Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK.
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Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice. Schedules of Controlled Substances: Placement of FDA-Approved Products of Oral Solutions Containing Dronabinol [(-)-delta-9-transtetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC)] in Schedule II. Interim final rule, with request for comments. Fed Regist 2017; 82:14815-20. [PMID: 28355049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
On July 1, 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new drug application for Syndros, a drug product consisting of dronabinol [(-)-delta-9-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC)] oral solution. Thereafter, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provided the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with a scheduling recommendation that would result in Syndros (and other oral solutions containing dronabinol) being placed in schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). In accordance with the CSA, as revised by the Improving Regulatory Transparency for New Medical Therapies Act, DEA is hereby issuing an interim final rule placing FDA-approved products of oral solutions containing dronabinol in schedule II of the CSA.
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48
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Chen DJ, Gao M, Gao FF, Su QX, Wu J. Brain cannabinoid receptor 2: expression, function and modulation. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2017; 38:312-316. [PMID: 28065934 PMCID: PMC5342669 DOI: 10.1038/aps.2016.149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabis sativa (marijuana) is a fibrous flowering plant that produces an abundant variety of molecules, some with psychoactive effects. At least 4% of the world's adult population uses cannabis annually, making it one of the most frequently used illicit drugs in the world. The psychoactive effects of cannabis are mediated primarily through cannabinoid receptor (CBR) subtypes. The prevailing view is that CB1Rs are mainly expressed in the central neurons, whereas CB2Rs are predominantly expressed in peripheral immune cells. However, this traditional view has been challenged by emerging strong evidence that shows CB2Rs are moderately expressed and function in specific brain areas. New evidence has demonstrated that brain CB2Rs modulate animal drug-seeking behaviors, suggesting that these receptors may exist in brain regions that regulate drug addiction. Recently, we further confirmed that functional CB2Rs are expressed in mouse ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine (DA) neurons and that the activation of VTA CB2Rs reduces neuronal excitability and cocaine-seeking behavior. In addition, CB2R-mediated modulation of hippocampal CA3 neuronal excitability and network synchronization has been reported. Here, we briefly summarize recent lines of evidence showing how CB2Rs modulate function and pathophysiology in the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- De-jie Chen
- Department of Neurology, Yunfu People's Hospital, Yunfu 527300, China
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013–4409, USA
| | - Ming Gao
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013–4409, USA
| | - Fen-fei Gao
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013–4409, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Quan-xi Su
- Department of Neurology, Yunfu People's Hospital, Yunfu 527300, China
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Neurology, Yunfu People's Hospital, Yunfu 527300, China
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013–4409, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
- E-mail
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49
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Jamwal R, Topletz AR, Ramratnam B, Akhlaghi F. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass-spectrometry for simple and simultaneous quantification of cannabinoids. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2017; 1048:10-18. [PMID: 28192758 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2017.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2016] [Revised: 02/01/2017] [Accepted: 02/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cannabis is used widely in the United States, both recreationally and for medical purposes. Current methods for analysis of cannabinoids in human biological specimens rely on complex extraction process and lengthy analysis time. We established a rapid and simple assay for quantification of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), 11-hydroxy Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH THC) and 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannbinol (THCCOOH) in human plasma by U-HPLC-MS/MS usingΔ9-tetrahydrocannabinol-D3 (THC-D3) as the internal standard. Chromatographic separation was achieved on an Acquity BEH C18 column using a gradient comprising of water (0.1% formic acid) and methanol (0.1% formic acid) over a 6 min run-time. Analytes from 200μL plasma were extracted using acetonitrile (containing 1% formic acid and THC-D3). Mass spectrometry was performed in positive ionization mode, and total ion chromatogram was used for quantification of analytes. The assay was validated according to guidelines set forth by Food and Drug Administration of the United States. An eight-point calibration curve was fitted with quadratic regression (r2>0.99) from 1.56 to 100ngmL-1 and a lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of 1.56ngmL-1 was achieved. Accuracy and precision calculated from six calibration curves was between 85-115% while the mean extraction recovery was >90% for all the analytes. Several plasma phospholipids eluted after the analytes thus did not interfere with the assay. Bench-top, freeze-thaw, auto-sampler and short-term stability ranged from 92.7 to 106.8% of nominal values. Application of the method was evaluated by quantification of analytes in human plasma from six subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohitash Jamwal
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Ariel R Topletz
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States; COBRE Center for Cancer Research Development and Lifespan Clinical Research Centre, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Bharat Ramratnam
- COBRE Center for Cancer Research Development and Lifespan Clinical Research Centre, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Fatemeh Akhlaghi
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora D Volkow
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Wilson M Compton
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Eric M Wargo
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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