Synthesis of the Cannabimovone and Cannabifuran Class of Minor Phytocannabinoids and Their Anti-inflammatory Activity

J Org Chem. 2022 May 6;87(9):6075-6086. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.2c00336. Epub 2022 Apr 27.

Abstract

Despite centuries-long use of Cannabis in human culture and the now ubiquitous claims of its medicinal value, only a small handful of phytocannabinoids have been rigorously evaluated for pharmacological properties. While more than 100 distinct minor cannabinoids have been documented to date, a paucity of studies on their biological activities have been conducted due to a lack of routine access to sufficient quantities for testing. Herein, we report a strategy to prepare several structurally diverse minor cannabinoids deriving synthetically from readily available cannabidiol. Furthermore, we examined their ability to polarize activated microglia toward an anti-inflammatory phenotype using LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. The minor cannabinoids studied, especially cannabielsoin, dehydrocannabielsoin, cannabimovone, and 3'-epicannabimovone, inhibited the production of prototypical pro-inflammatory biomarkers. This study represents the beginning of a systematic mapping of the roles minor cannabinoids may play in the medicinal properties of cannabis used for the treatment of pain and inflammation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Cannabidiol* / pharmacology
  • Cannabinoids* / pharmacology
  • Cannabinoids* / therapeutic use
  • Cannabis*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Cannabinoids
  • Cannabidiol