An entourage effect: inactive endogenous fatty acid glycerol esters enhance 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol cannabinoid activity

Summary & key facts

This 1998 lab study looked at natural fatty acid glycerol esters that occur in the body. The researchers found that some of these compounds do almost nothing by themselves but make a known endocannabinoid called 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol, or 2-AG, work better at cannabinoid receptors. They called this boosting effect an "entourage effect." The work was done in laboratory tests on cells and receptors, so it shows how these molecules can change each other’s activity but does not show direct effects in people.

Key facts:

• The researchers tested naturally occurring fatty acid glycerol esters that the body makes.
• Some of those esters were inactive on their own but increased how strongly 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol, or 2-AG, activated cannabinoid receptors in lab tests.
• The authors named this interaction the "entourage effect," meaning inactive companion molecules can boost the action of an active endocannabinoid.
• All the experiments were done in laboratory preparations on receptors and cells, so the findings explain a possible biological mechanism but do not prove real-world effects in people.

Topics

Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research GABA and Rice Research Neuroscience of respiration and sleep

Categories

Health Sciences Medicine Pharmacology

Tags

Adenylyl cyclase Agonist Anandamide Biochemistry Biology Cannabinoid Cannabinoid receptor Cannabinoid receptor type 2 Chemistry Endocannabinoid system Endogeny Glycerol Hypothermia Internal medicine Medicine Pharmacology Receptor

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