Achieves the Bioactivity of THC with Improved Stability and Pharmaceutical Properties
These cannabinol analogues formulate analgesic drugs as an alternative to opioid medications. Due to the United States’ opioid crisis, many researchers investigate cannabinoid compounds as potential alternatives for pain management. An ongoing challenge in cannabinoid drug development is the instability of the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) oxidation state, which causes it to oxidize easily into its less bioactive cannabinol (CBN) counterparts. Axially-chiral cannabinol (ax-CBN) compounds would have similar biological profiles to THC with improved stability and drug-like properties. Unfortunately, easy and effective synthetic methods to prepare ax-CBN compounds do not exist.
Researchers at the University of Florida have developed substituted axially-chiral cannabinol analogues with increased stability that are suitable for non-opioid pain management. These ax-CBN compounds can form pharmaceuticals to treat diseases, such as Huntington’s disease, epilepsy, arthritis, or inflammation-related conditions.
Application
Analgesic drugs that use cannabinol analogues with greater stability than THC
Advantages
- Possess inherent biological activity and pharmaceutical stability, making them more reliable than THC in analgesic drugs
- Features an easy synthesis process, making cannabinol analogues a strong alternative to opioids for managing pain
Technology
These axially-chiral cannabinols (ax-CBNs) have biological activity comparable to tetrahydrocannabinols (THCs) but with better stability and pharmaceutical properties. The conventional route for preparing cannabinoid analogs relies on coupling an appropriate monoterpene with a resorcinol derivative. Cannabinoids like THC oxidize easily and, therefore, lose bioactivity, making it difficult to develop them into drugs. The ax-CBNs have a methyl group attached to the cannabinol ring located on the C10 carbon, which locks in the axially-chiral component. An easy synthesis process allows ax-CBN compounds to function as non-opioid alternative analgesics.
Brochure
