Chemicals Found in Marijuana Fight Inflammation

Omega-3 fatty acids are also a source of cannabinioids, chemicals that are found in marijuana. Foods such as meat, eggs, fish and nuts contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which the body converts into endocannabinoids -- cannabinoids that thebody produces naturally.

A new study in animal tissue reveals the cascade of chemical reactions that convert omega-3 fatty acids into cannabinoids that have anti-inflammatory benefits -- but without the psychotropic high.

‘Cannabinoids, such as tetrahydrocannabinol in marijuana or endocannabinoids can bind to receptors in the body and elicit anti-inflammatory and anti-pain action.’

A well-known cannabinoid in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is responsible for some of its euphoric effects, but it also has anti-inflammatory benefits.

Endocannabinoids Exhibit Anti-inflammatory Effects

Cannabinoids in marijuana and endocannabinoids produced in the body can support the body's immune system and therefore are attractive targets for the development of anti-inflammatory therapeutics.

In 1964, the Israeli chemist Raphael Mechoulam was the first to discover and isolate THC from marijuana. To test whether he had found the compound that produces euphoria, he dosed cake slices with 10 milligrams of pure THC and gave them to willing friends at a party. Their reactions, from nonstop laughter, to lethargy, to talkativeness, confirmed that THC was a psychotropic cannabinoid.

It wasn't until 1992 that researchers discovered endocannabinoids produced naturally in the body. Since then, several other endocannabinoids have been identified, but not all have known functions.

Cannabinoids bind to two types of cannabinoid receptors in the body - one that is found predominantly in the nervous system and one in the immune system, Das said.

"Our team discovered an enzymatic pathway that converts omega-3-derived endocannabinoids into more potent anti-inflammatory molecules that predominantly bind to the receptors found in the immune system," Das said.

Source: Eurekalert