JWH-015 is a chemical from the naphthoylindole family that acts as a subtype-selective

cannabinoid Cannabinoids () are several structural classes of compounds found primarily in the ''Cannabis'' plant or as synthetic compounds. The most notable cannabinoid is the phytocannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (delta-9-THC), the primary psychoact ...

agonist An agonist is a chemical that activates a Receptor (biochemistry), receptor to produce a biological response. Receptors are Cell (biology), cellular proteins whose activation causes the cell to modify what it is currently doing. In contrast, an R ...

. Its affinity for CB₂ receptors is 13.8 nM, while its affinity for CB₁ is 383 nM, meaning that it binds almost 28 times more strongly to CB₂ than to CB₁. However, it still displays some CB₁ activity, and in some model systems can be very potent and efficacious at activating CB₁ receptors, and therefore it is not as selective as newer drugs such as JWH-133. It has been shown to possess immunomodulatory effects, and CB₂ agonists may be useful in the treatment of pain and inflammation. It was discovered and named after John W. Huffman.

Metabolism

JWH-015 has been shown ''in vitro'' to be metabolized primarily by

hydroxylation In chemistry, hydroxylation refers to the installation of a hydroxyl group () into an organic compound. Hydroxylations generate alcohols and phenols, which are very common functional groups. Hydroxylation confers some degree of water-solubility ...

and ''N''- dealkylation, and also by

epoxidation In organic chemistry, an epoxide is a cyclic ether, where the ether forms a three-atom ring: two atoms of carbon and one atom of oxygen. This triangular structure has substantial ring strain, making epoxides highly reactive, more so than other ...

of the

naphthalene Naphthalene is an organic compound with formula . It is the simplest polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, and is a white Crystal, crystalline solid with a characteristic odor that is detectable at concentrations as low as 0.08 Parts-per notation ...

ring, similar to the metabolic pathways seen for other

aminoalkylindole Aminoalkylindoles (AAIs) are a family of cannabinergic compound that act as a cannabinoid receptor agonist. They were synthesized by the pharmaceutical company Sterling-Winthrop in the early 1990s with a commercial potential as a new family of n ...

cannabinoids Cannabinoids () are several structural classes of compounds found primarily in the ''Cannabis'' plant or as synthetic compounds. The most notable cannabinoid is the phytocannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (delta-9-THC), the primary psychoa ...

such as

WIN 55,212-2 WIN 55,212-2 is a chemical described as an aminoalkylindole derivative, which produces effects similar to those of cannabinoids such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) but has an entirely different chemical structure. WIN 55,212-2 is a potent cannab ...

Epoxidation In organic chemistry, an epoxide is a cyclic ether, where the ether forms a three-atom ring: two atoms of carbon and one atom of oxygen. This triangular structure has substantial ring strain, making epoxides highly reactive, more so than other ...

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon A Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) is any member of a class of organic compounds that is composed of multiple fused aromatic rings. Most are produced by the incomplete combustion of organic matter— by engine exhaust fumes, tobacco, incine ...

s (see for example benzo(a)pyrene toxicity) can produce

carcinogenic A carcinogen () is any agent that promotes the development of cancer. Carcinogens can include synthetic chemicals, naturally occurring substances, physical agents such as ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, and Biological agent, biologic agent ...

metabolites, although there is no evidence to show that JWH-015 or other aminoalkylindole cannabinoids are actually carcinogenic ''in vivo''. JWH-015 may signal certain cancers to shrink through a process called

apoptosis Apoptosis (from ) is a form of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms and in some eukaryotic, single-celled microorganisms such as yeast. Biochemistry, Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes (Morphology (biol ...

Legal status

In the United States, all CB₁ receptor agonists of the 3-(1-naphthoyl)indole class such as JWH-015 are

Schedule I Controlled Substance The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) is the statute establishing federal U.S. drug policy under which the manufacture, importation, possession, use, and distribution of certain substances is regulated. It was passed by the 91st United State ...

s. As of October 2015 JWH-015 is a controlled substance in China. JWH-015 has been classified under the German BtMG as Anlage II.

References

{{Cannabinoids Naphthoylindoles JWH cannabinoids Designer drugs CB1 receptor agonists CB2 receptor agonists