Naphthoylindoles
{{Cannabis-stub}}
{{Short description|Class of chemical compounds}}
File:JWH018.svg, a simple naphthoylindole]]
Naphthoylindoles are a class of synthetic cannabinoids.{{cite journal | last1 = Manera | first1 = C | last2 = Tuccinardi | first2 = T | last3 = Martinelli | first3 = A | title = Indoles and related compounds as cannabinoid ligands | journal = Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry | volume = 8 | issue = 4 | pages = 370–87 | date= April 2008 | pmid = 18473928 |name-list-style=vanc | doi=10.2174/138955708783955935}}
Pharmacology
Behaving similarly in vivo to endocannabinoids such as anandamide or 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), Naphthoylindoles can bind to endocannabinoid receptors in animals, presenting as CB1 and/or CB2 partial/full agonists.
History
They have gained notoriety over the years for illicit usage and distribution in Europe and North America, typically marketed as "herbal incense blends."{{cite web |title=Synthetic cannabinoids drug profile |url=https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/drug-profiles/synthetic-cannabinoids_en |website=emcdda.europa.eu |publisher=EMCDDA |access-date=21 May 2023}}
See also
- Structural scheduling of synthetic cannabinoids
- List of JWH cannabinoids, includes many naphthoylindoles
- Naphthoyl, an acyl group, derived, in this case, from 1-naphthoic acid
- Indole