and Slade 2005 ; Flores-Sanchez and Verpoorte 2008 ). Among these compounds is
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the well-known psychoactive molecule produced by
C. sativa(Gaoni and Mechoulam 1964 ), responsible for making theCannabisplant
illicit. However, this cannabinoid also exerts a variety of therapeutic activities such
as relief from the nausea caused by cancer chemotherapy (Guzman 2003 ) and
suppression of spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis (Baker et al. 2003 ). The
target molecules of THC have been identified. Specifically, THC activates two
types of cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2), which are expressed in the mam-
malian brain and immune cells, respectively (Matsuda et al. 1990 ; Munro et al.
1993 ). Thus, in recent years, THC has attracted a great deal of attention as a
promising medicine (Mechoulam 2000 ; Giacoppo et al. 2014 ).
In addition to THC, several cannabinoids have additional interesting activities.
For example, cannabidiol (CBD), the isomer of THC, is a potent antioxidative and
anti-inflammatory agent and can provide neuroprotection in acute and chronic cases
of neurodegeneration (Hampson et al. 1998 ; Lastres-Becker et al. 2005 ). In recent
years, Sativex, an oral spray consisting of THC and CBD, has been used for treating
adult multiple sclerosis patients in Canada and several European countries (Syed
et al. 2014 ). This combination of compounds is used in Sativex since CBD reduces
the unfavorable narcotic effects of THC. Cannabichromene (CBC) also has various
biological activities, and the co-action of CBC with THC was investigated sinceC.
sativaproduces considerable concentrations of CBC (Turner and Elsohly 1981 ;
Fig. 8.1 Structures of various cannabinoids. THCtetrahydrocannabinol; THCAtetrahydro-
cannabinolic acid;CBDcannabidiol;CBDAcannabidiolic acid;CBCcannabichromene;CBCA
cannabichromenic acid;CBGAcannabigerolic acid
184 S. Sirikantaramas and F. Taura