The endogenous cannabinoid system

Abstract

The hemp plant Cannabis sativa has been cultivated for thousands of years and is used as a medical plant and intoxicant. Scientif­ic research on the psychoactive substances of Cannabis sativa and their effects on the brain started around 50 years ago and led to the discovery of the endogenous cannabi­noid system. Today we know that this system represents an important feedback mechanism that modulates the communication be­tween neurons. However, this system is not only active in the brain, but is known to be activated in different tissues and organs during specific disease states. Consequently, there is increasing interest in this system as a possible target for the development of new drugs. The currently commercially available drugs are based on cannabis extracts or synthetic compounds of the plant’s active components and are mainly used to treat chron­ic pain. In this review, the mechanisms of the endogenous cannabinoid system in pain perception are elucidated and a new herbal (phyto)cannabinoid which is a constituent of our daily food is presented.