31
al. 2011) and dramatically increases in the presence of traumatic brain injury, stroke, obesity, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis (Brose 2016).
eCB tone is also regulated by the degradative enzymes fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), specific to AEA and 2-AG respectively (Long et al. 2009).
FAAH and MAGL have been investigated as potential targets for drugs aimed at increasing eCB tone in order to achieve a therapeutic outcome, such as modulation of pain and inflammation (Ahn, McKinney & Cravatt 2008; Petrosino, Ligresti & Di Marzo 2009).
In addition to interacting with AEA and 2-AG, receptors CB1 and CB2 also interact with compounds found in cannabis and other plants, called “phytocannabinoids.” Additionally, CB1 and CB2 interact with synthetic cannabinoids that have been developed for research and medicine. The most well-known synthetic cannabinoid drug, dronabinol, is comprised of synthetic delta-9 THC in soybean oil. Dronabinol was approved by the FDA in 1985 for the treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, and was later approved for other uses, such as AIDS wasting syndrome.
Beta-caryophyllene (BCP) is an example of a phytocannabinoid found in a plant other than cannabis. Gertch et al. (2008) report that BCP interacts selectively with CB2 receptors, potentially offering a non-psychoactive treatment option for pain, inflammation, atherosclerosis, and osteoporosis. BCP is found in the essential oils of many plants. While Balsams of Copaiba oils are the richest source of BCP (up to 53.3%), other sources include, but are not limited to, black pepper (Piper natrum L.) (up to 35%), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) (up to 19.1%), cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) (up to 12.4%), and hops (Humulus lupulus) (up to 9.8%) (Russo 2016a). BCP is considered to be both a terpene and a cannabinoid and represents a large percentage of the essential oils in some chemical varieties of cannabis (Russo 2016b).
29