The cosmic sentinel of balance: what is the endocannabinoid system and how does it work?

26. 11. 2024

• Let's go! What is the endocannabinoid system?
• Endocannabinoid Receptors.
• Endocannabinoids: Messengers from stardust
• Enzymes: Space cleaners
• A shining discovery: who discovered the endocannabinoid system and when?
• What effect does the endocannabinoid system have on human crew?
• The endocannabinoid system and the cannabinoid galaxy
• Conclusion

Let's go! What is the endocannabinoid system?

In the depths of the cosmic recesses of the human body, there exists a mysterious but extremely important cell signalling system - the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This complex system is responsible for maintaining the balance known as homeostasis, a stable environment within the body. It is crucial in regulating, for example, hormones, body temperature, sleep cycles, mood and countless other processes. 

The endocannabinoid system extends throughout the body, found in the brain, organs, connective tissues, glands, and even immune cells.

In total, the ECS consists of three key components:

• Endocannabinoid receptors
• Endocannabinoids
• Enzymes

 

Endocannabinoid receptors: space receivers

Endocannabinoid receptors are receivers of signals distributed in almost all cells of the human body.

The main stars of this network include:

• CB1 receptors - located mainly in the central nervous system, where they coordinate bowel motility, gastric fluid secretion, neurotransmitter function, mood regulation, and appetite.
• CB2 receptors - you'll find them mostly in internal organs, in the peripheral nervous system (nerve cells outside the brain and spinal cord), and in immune cells.
• Gamma receptors and vanilloid receptors - unique space explorers responding to various damage and stressors.

 

Endocannabinoids: messengers from stardust

Endocannabinoids are chemical messengers that connect with receptors and send signals across our internal universe. They relay messages from one part of the body to another and give instructions to the endocannabinoid receptors, much like astronauts determine the direction of flight.

Among the endocannabinoids discovered so far, these galactic emissaries include:

• Anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamide; AEA)
• 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG)
• 2-arachidonyl glyceryl ether
• O-arachidonoyl-ethanolamine
• N-arachidonoyl dopamine (NADA)

 

Cannabinoids derived from cannabis, known as phytocannabinoids, work on a similar principle and are almost indistinguishable from endocannabinoids at the molecular level.

Enzymes: cosmic cleaners

Once the endocannabinoids have done their job, enzymes step in to break down the excess cannabinoids to maintain balance.

The two main enzymes that perform this cosmic task are:

• Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH)
• Monoacylglycerol hydrolase (MAGL)

A brilliant discovery: who discovered the endocannabinoid system and when?

• 1988: A group of scientists, funded by the US government, delve into the mysteries of the endocannabinoid system for the first time. The first specific endocannabinoid receptor that responded to cannabis extracts - CB1 - appeared in the viewfinder of their telescope. This receptor opened the gateway to a previously unrecognised communication microcosm within the body.
• 1989-1991: After this groundbreaking discovery, there was literally an explosion of interest in the endocannabinoid system. A team of scientists from the pharmaceutical company Pfizer created a molecular "double" of THC, which made it possible to map where these receptors were located. Endocannabinoid receptors were found to be present in the brain in abundance, surpassing all other neurotransmitters, and a second type of endocannabinoid receptor, CB2, was also identified.
• 1992: A team of scientists, including Raphael Mechoulam, William Devan, and Lumír Hanus, discovered a naturally occurring chemical messenger that could communicate with these newly discovered receptors. They named it anandamide, which is Sanskrit for "bliss."
• 1995: Mechoulam and his team add another notch to the map of this cosmic network - they discover a second endocannabinoid, 2-AG.

What effect does the endocannabinoid system have on the human crew?

The endocannabinoid system works on the principle of 'keys and locks' - with endocannabinoids (cannabinoids produced by the body) and phytocannabinoids (cannabinoids derived from plants) acting as keys, while CB1 and CB2 receptors act as locks.

Once the key meets the right lock, a mechanism regulating various physiological functions is activated - from metabolism to mood and sleep to pain perception, just as the Sun influences the movement of the planets and their balance. Once the body is in harmony, enzymes break down excess cannabinoids, ensuring energy balance on board.

The endocannabinoid system and the cannabinoid galaxy

Cannabinoids enter the endocannabinoid system in different ways. For example, the psychoactive THC (delta-9-THC) binds strongly to the CB1 receptor, like a body with high gravity attracting surrounding objects. This process produces significant changes in perception and emotion.

At the other end of the spectrum is CBD, which does not produce psychoactive effects and shows low to no binding to CB1 and CB2 receptors. Nevertheless, it can modulate their activity, providing therapeutic benefits such as helping with insomnia, stress, anxiety or inflammation.

When acting as a CB1 receptor modulator, CBD can also reduce the side effects of THC. In addition, CBD also interacts with other space stations - serotonin or vanilloid receptors.

Terpenes, the substances responsible for the smell and taste of cannabis plants, can in turn enhance or complement the effects of cannabinoids.

In the following table, we provide a basic overview of how some cannabinoids act on CB1 and CB2 receptors and how each performs its unique task in the endocannabinoid universe.

Cannabinoid	Binding to the ECS
CBD (Cannabidiol)	Modulation of CB1 and CB2 receptor activity
H4CBD	Direct association with CB1 and CB2 receptors
HHC (Hexahydrocannabinol)	Strong association with CB1, weak association with CB2
THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol)	Activation of both CB1 and CB2 receptors
CBG (Cannabigerol)	Interaction with both CB1 and CB2
CBN (Cannabinol)	Weaker binding to CB1 and CB2, about 10% of the effect of THC
THCV	Binding to both CB1 and CB2, activation and blocking of CB1 in a dose-dependent manner - higher doses activate, low doses block (switching mechanism)

 

However, whole galaxies of uncharted connections still lie ahead. Further missions to the endocannabinoid universe and to a deeper understanding of how cannabinoids and endocannabinoids work are inevitable.

 

Conclusion

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) maintains internal balance or homeostasis in the human body. It consists of CB1 and CB2 receptors, which as cosmic receivers respond to both endocannabinoids (produced by the body) and phytocannabinoids (from cannabis) to regulate mood, sleep, metabolism and other processes. This system was discovered in the 1980s by a group of scientists who first detected the CB1 receptor signal. Interstellar research on the ECS and its interactions with cannabinoids continues to this day, as many links and effects remain to be discovered.

 

Author: Cannastra 🚀

 

   

Photo: AI

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