New cannabidiol derivatives: synthesis, binding to cannabinoid receptor, and evaluation of their antiinflammatory activity.

Cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabidiol dimethyl hephtyl (CBD-DMH) were hydrogenated to give four different epimers. The new derivatives were evaluated for their ability to modulate the production of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI), nitric oxide (NO), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) by murine macrophages, and for their binding to the cannabinoid receptor (CB(1)). Surprisingly, we found that these derivatives exhibit good binding to CB(1). In addition hydrogenated CBD and CBD-DMH demonstrate bioactivities different from their original compounds.