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Action of delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol An approach to the active metabolite hypothesis
Author(s) -
Hollister Leo E.,
Gillespie Hampton K.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt1975186714
Subject(s) - metabolite , delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol , active metabolite , phenylbutazone , tetrahydrocannabinol , pharmacology , chemistry , cannabinoid , medicine , biochemistry , receptor
The active metabolite hypothesis, that delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) must be converted to its 11‐hydroxy metabolite before it becomes active, was tested in a study of subjects chosen as rapid and slow hydroxylators of drugs on the basis of antipyrine and phenylbutazone plasma disappearance rates. Although the sample of subjects showed the customary wide variations in effects experienced after an intravenously administered dose of THC, it was impossible to correlate either the speed of onset, total intensity, or duration of these effects with speed of hydroxylation of drugs. Although 11‐hydroxy‐THC has unquestioned activity indistinguishable from THC itself, it need not necessarily be solely responsible for the pharmacologic activity of THe.