JWH-051 is an
analgesic drug which is a
cannabinoidagonist. Its chemical structure is closely related to that of the potent cannabinoid agonist
HU-210, with the only difference being the removal of the hydroxyl group at position 1 of the aromatic ring. It was discovered and named after
John W. Huffman.
JWH-051 retains high affinity for the
CB1receptor, but is a much stronger agonist for
CB2, with a
Ki value of 14nM at CB2 vs 19nM at CB1.[1] It was one of the first CB2-selective ligands developed, although its selectivity for CB2 is modest compared to newer compounds such as
HU-308.
It has similar effects to other cannabinoid agonists such as
sedation and
analgesia, but with a relatively strong
antiinflammatory effect due to its strong activity at CB2.[2][3][4]
References
^Huffman JW, Yu S, Showalter V, Abood ME, Wiley JL, Compton DR, et al. (September 1996). "Synthesis and pharmacology of a very potent cannabinoid lacking a phenolic hydroxyl with high affinity for the CB2 receptor". Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 39 (20): 3875–7.
doi:
10.1021/jm960394y.
PMID8831752.
^Huffman JW (September 2000). "The search for selective ligands for the CB2 receptor". Current Pharmaceutical Design. 6 (13): 1323–37.
doi:
10.2174/1381612003399347.
PMID10903395.
^Klein TW, Newton C, Friedman H (1998). "Cannabinoid receptors and the cytokine network". Drugs of Abuse, Immunomodulation, and Aids. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. Vol. 437. pp. 215–22.
doi:
10.1007/978-1-4615-5347-2_24.
ISBN978-0-306-45838-5.
PMID9666274.
^Griffin G, Fernando SR, Ross RA, McKay NG, Ashford ML, Shire D, et al. (November 1997). "Evidence for the presence of CB2-like cannabinoid receptors on peripheral nerve terminals". European Journal of Pharmacology. 339 (1): 53–61.
doi:
10.1016/S0014-2999(97)01336-8.
PMID9450616.