ANANDAMIDE

ChEBI: An N-(polyunsaturated fatty acyl)ethanolamine resulting from the formal condensation of carboxy group of arachidonic acid with amino group of ethanolamine.

A reproductive hazard.

Endogenous cannabinoid and vanilloid receptor agonist, in water-soluble emulsion (for details see TocrisolveTM 100). K i values are 89 and 371 nM for CB 1 and CB 2 receptors respectively; EC 50 values are 18, 31 and 27 nM at GPR55, CB 1 and CB 2 respectively; pK i = 5.68 for rVR1. Also blocks TNF- α -induced NF-kB activation via direct inhibition of IKK. Also available as the pure oil dissolved in ethanol (N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)-5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z-eicosatetraenamide ).

This lipid neurotransmitter and endocannabinoid receptor ligand (FW = 347.54 g/mol; CAS 94421-68-8), also known as arachidonylethanolamide, inhibits calcium ion currents and activates the MAP kinase signaling pathway. Anandamide is a naturally occurring effector of central and peripheral nervous systems, as mediated by CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, respectively. (These receptors were originally characterized as binding Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, marijuana’s major psychoactive ingredient.) Anandamide, 2-arachidonoylglycerol, and congeners (N- oleoylethanolamide and N-palmitoylethanolamide) are lipophilic signalling molecules with multiple physiological roles in learning and memory, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, neuroprotection and neurogenesis. Anandamide likewise plays a role in regulating uterine implantation of the early-stage embryo (blastocyst). Anandamide synthesis occurs from N- acetylphosphatidylethanolamine by multiple pathways that include phospholipase A2, phospholipase C, and NAPE-hydrolyzing phospholipase D (or NAPE-PLD). Target(s): adenylate cyclase; Na + channels; a7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor; 5 HT3 receptors; Ca 2+ channels; K+ channels, voltage-gated; acylglycerol lipase, or monoacylglycerol lipase.