New resorcinol-anandamide "hybrids" as potent cannabinoid receptor ligands endowed with antinociceptive activity in vivo

Antonella Brizzi*, Vittorio Brizzi, Maria Grazia Cascio, Federico Corelli, Francesca Guida, Alessia Ligresti, Sabatino Maione, Adriano Martinelli, Serena Pasquini, Tiziano Tuccinardi, Vincenzo Di Marzo

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Bearing in mind the pharmacophoric requirements of both (-)-trans-Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and anandamide (AEA), we designed a novel pharmacophore consisting of both a rigid aromatic backbone and a flexible chain with the aim to develop a series of stable and potent ligands of cannabinoid receptors. In this paper we report the synthesis, docking studies, and structure-activity relationships of new resorcinol-anandamide "hybrids" differing in the side chain group. Compounds bearing a 2-methyloctan-2-yl group at position 5 showed a significantly higher affinity for cannabinoid (CB) receptors, in particular when an alkyloxy chain of 7 or 10 carbon atoms was also present at position 1. Derivative 32 was a potent CB 1 and CB 2 ligand, with K i values similar to that of WIN 55-212 and potent antinociceptive activity in vivo. Moreover, derivative 38, although less potent, proved to be the most selective ligand for CB 2 receptor (K i(CB 1)) 1 μM, K i(CB 2)) 35 nM).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2506-2514
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry
Volume52
Issue number8
Early online date30 Mar 2009
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 23 Apr 2009

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