PLoS ONE (Jan 2016)

Fluorinated Cannabidiol Derivatives: Enhancement of Activity in Mice Models Predictive of Anxiolytic, Antidepressant and Antipsychotic Effects.

  • Aviva Breuer,
  • Christeene G Haj,
  • Manoela V Fogaça,
  • Felipe V Gomes,
  • Nicole Rodrigues Silva,
  • João Francisco Pedrazzi,
  • Elaine A Del Bel,
  • Elaine A Del Bel,
  • Jaime C Hallak,
  • José A Crippa,
  • Antonio W Zuardi,
  • Raphael Mechoulam,
  • Francisco S Guimarães

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0158779
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 7
p. e0158779

Abstract

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Cannabidiol (CBD) is a major Cannabis sativa constituent, which does not cause the typical marijuana psychoactivity. However, it has been shown to be active in a numerous pharmacological assays, including mice tests for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression and schizophrenia. In human trials the doses of CBD needed to achieve effects in anxiety and schizophrenia are high. We report now the synthesis of 3 fluorinated CBD derivatives, one of which, 4'-F-CBD (HUF-101) (1), is considerably more potent than CBD in behavioral assays in mice predictive of anxiolytic, antidepressant, antipsychotic and anti-compulsive activity. Similar to CBD, the anti-compulsive effects of HUF-101 depend on cannabinoid receptors.