Open AccessMolecular Targets of Cannabinoids Associated with Depression
Author(s) -
Pradeep Paudel,
Samir A. Ross,
Xing-Cong Li
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
current medicinal chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1875-533X
pISSN - 0929-8673
DOI - 10.2174/0929867328666210623144658
Subject(s) - cannabinoid receptor , cannabinoid , synthetic cannabinoids , pharmacology , monoamine oxidase , cannabidiol , cannabinoid receptor agonists , druggability , receptor , depression (economics) , chemistry , neuroscience , medicine , biology , psychiatry , cannabis , biochemistry , agonist , enzyme , gene , macroeconomics , economics
Novel therapeutic strategies are needed to address depression, a major neurological disorder affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Cannabinoids and their synthetic derivatives have demonstrated numerous neurological activities and may have the potential to be developed into new treatments for depression. This review highlights cannabinoid (CB) receptors, monoamine oxidase (MAO), N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, gammaaminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, and cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor as key molecular targets of cannabinoids that are associated with depression. The anti-depressant activity of cannabinoids and their binding modes with cannabinoid receptors are discussed, providing insights into rational design and discovery of new cannabinoids or cannabimimetic agents with improved druggable properties.