Tetrahydrocannabivarin
Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV, THV) is a homologue of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) having a propyl (3-carbon) side chain instead of a pentyl (5-carbon) group on the molecule, which makes it produce very different effects from THC.[1]
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Routes of administration | Oral, Smoked, Inhaled |
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Formula | C19H26O2 |
Molar mass | 286.415 g·mol−1 |
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Chemistry
Similar to THC, THCV has 7 double bond isomers and 30 stereoisomers (see: Tetrahydrocannabinol#Isomerism).
Description
Plants with elevated levels of propyl cannabinoids (including THCV) have been found in populations of Cannabis sativa L. ssp. indica (= Cannabis indica Lam.) from China, India, Nepal, Thailand, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, as well as southern and western Africa. THCV levels up to 53.7% of total cannabinoids have been reported.[2][3]
THCV is a cannabinoid receptor type 1 antagonist and cannabinoid receptor type 2 partial agonist.[4] Δ9-THCV has also been shown to be a CB1 antagonist.[5] Both papers describing the antagonistic properties of THCV were demonstrated in murine models.
Biosynthesis
Unlike THC, cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabichromene (CBC), THCV doesn’t begin as cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). Instead of combining with olivetolic acid to create CBGA, geranyl pyrophosphate joins with divarinolic acid, which has two fewer carbon atoms. The result is cannabigerovarin acid (CBGVA). Once CBGVA is created, the process continues exactly the same as it would for THC. CBGVA is broken down to tetrahydrocannabivarin carboxylic acid (THCVA) by the enzyme THCV synthase. At that point, THCVA can be decarboxylated with heat or UV light to create THCV.
Research
THCV is a new potential treatment against obesity-associated glucose intolerance with pharmacology different from that of CB1 inverse agonists/antagonists.[6] GW Pharmaceuticals is studying plant-derived tetrahydrocannabivarin (as GWP42004) for type 2 diabetes in addition to metformin.
Legal status
It is not scheduled by Convention on Psychotropic Substances. In the United States, THCV is not specifically listed as a Schedule I drug, but "Marijuana Extract" is.[7] THCV could be considered an analog of THC, in which case, sales or possession intended for human consumption could be prosecuted under the Federal Analog Act.
United States
THCV is not scheduled at the federal level so long as it is not derived from the cannabis plant in the United States.[8]
The 2018 Farm Bill legalized the production and sale of THCV if it is derived from hemp compliant with the 2018 farm bill.[9]
See also
- Cannabinoids
- Federal Analog Act
- Rimonabant (synthetic CB1 antagonist)
- Tetrahydrocannabiorcol (Δ9-THCC, (C1)-Δ9-THC)
- Tetrahydrocannabinol-C4 (Δ9-THCB, (C4)-Δ9-THC)
- Tetrahydrocannabiphorol (Δ9-THCP, (C7)-Δ9-THC)
- Cannabivarin (CBV)
- Parahexyl
- Cannabis
- Medical cannabis
References
- SC Labs, Cannabinoids
- Turner CE, Hadley K, Fetterman PS (October 1973). "Constituents of Cannabis sativa L. VI. Propyl homologs in samples of known geographical origin". Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 62 (10): 1739–41. doi:10.1002/jps.2600621045. PMID 4752132.
- Hillig KW, Mahlberg PG (June 2004). "A chemotaxonomic analysis of cannabinoid variation in Cannabis (Cannabaceae)". American Journal of Botany. 91 (6): 966–75. doi:10.3732/ajb.91.6.966. PMID 21653452. S2CID 32469533.
- Pertwee RG (January 2008). "The diverse CB1 and CB2 receptor pharmacology of three plant cannabinoids: delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol and delta9-tetrahydrocannabivarin". British Journal of Pharmacology. 153 (2): 199–215. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707442. PMC 2219532. PMID 17828291.
- Pertwee RG, Thomas A, Stevenson LA, Ross RA, Varvel SA, Lichtman AH, et al. (March 2007). "The psychoactive plant cannabinoid, Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is antagonized by Delta8- and Delta9-tetrahydrocannabivarin in mice in vivo". British Journal of Pharmacology. 150 (5): 586–94. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707124. PMC 2189766. PMID 17245367.
- Wargent ET, Zaibi MS, Silvestri C, Hislop DC, Stocker CJ, Stott CG, et al. (May 2013). "The cannabinoid Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) ameliorates insulin sensitivity in two mouse models of obesity". Nutrition & Diabetes. 3 (5): e68. doi:10.1038/nutd.2013.9. PMC 3671751. PMID 23712280.
- Federal Register, Vol. 81, No. 240, December 14, 2016]
- §1308.11 Schedule I. section (d) Hallucinogenic substances part (33)
- https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2/summary
External links
- Erowid Compounds found in Cannabis sativa