| Published Scientific Papers on Thujone |
Thujone exhibits low affinity for cannabinoid receptors but fails to evoke
cannabimimetic responses. ABSTRACT ONLY
by J.P. Meschler, A.C. Howlett
Published in Pharmacol Biochem Behav., March 1999
cannabimimetic responses. ABSTRACT ONLY
by J.P. Meschler, A.C. Howlett
Published in Pharmacol Biochem Behav., March 1999
Absinthe, an abused drug in the early 1900s, has been speculated to activate the receptors responsible for marijuana intoxication (the
CB1 cannabinoid receptor) (Nature 253:365-356; 1975). To test this hypothesis, we investigated oil of wormwood (Artemisia
absinthium) the active plant product found in absinthe, and thujone, the active compound found in oil of wormwood. Radioligand
receptor binding assays employing membrane preparations from rat brains containing CB1 cannabinoid receptors, and human tonsils
containing CB2 receptors, demonstrated that thujone displaced [3H]CP55940, a cannabinoid agonist, only at concentrations above 10
microM. HPLC analysis of oil of wormwood revealed that only the fractions having mobility close to thujone displaced [3H]CP55940 from
the CB1 cannabinoid receptor. [35S]GTPgammaS binding assays revealed that thujone failed to stimulate G-proteins even at 0.1 mM.
Thujone failed to inhibit forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in N18TG2 membranes at 1 mM. Rats administered thujone
exhibited different behavioral characteristics compared with rats administered a potent cannabinoid agonist, levonantradol. Therefore,
the hypothesis that activation of cannabinoid receptors is responsible for the intoxicating effects of thujone is not supported by the
present data.
CB1 cannabinoid receptor) (Nature 253:365-356; 1975). To test this hypothesis, we investigated oil of wormwood (Artemisia
absinthium) the active plant product found in absinthe, and thujone, the active compound found in oil of wormwood. Radioligand
receptor binding assays employing membrane preparations from rat brains containing CB1 cannabinoid receptors, and human tonsils
containing CB2 receptors, demonstrated that thujone displaced [3H]CP55940, a cannabinoid agonist, only at concentrations above 10
microM. HPLC analysis of oil of wormwood revealed that only the fractions having mobility close to thujone displaced [3H]CP55940 from
the CB1 cannabinoid receptor. [35S]GTPgammaS binding assays revealed that thujone failed to stimulate G-proteins even at 0.1 mM.
Thujone failed to inhibit forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in N18TG2 membranes at 1 mM. Rats administered thujone
exhibited different behavioral characteristics compared with rats administered a potent cannabinoid agonist, levonantradol. Therefore,
the hypothesis that activation of cannabinoid receptors is responsible for the intoxicating effects of thujone is not supported by the
present data.
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