The endogenous cannabinoid signalling system: chemistry, biochemistry and physiology

The cloning of central and peripheral cannabinoid receptor subtypes and the finding, in animal tissues, of endogenous metabolites capable of selectively binding them, opened a new age in cannabinoid research. In this article, starting from the pharmacology and chemistry of Indian hemp-derived as well as synthetic cannabinoids, and ending with the most recent findings on the biochemistry of endocannabinoids, we review the current state of the art of cannabinoid research, and explore the possible physiological roles of a newly discovered chemical regulatory apparatus: the endogenous cannabinoid system.