Planta Med 2008; 74 - P-26
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1075222

Behavioral Effects of the Novel CannabinoidSAAB-38-7 in Mouse Tetrad Assay

L Wilson 1, KD Ivey 1, S Ross 2, S Ahmed 2, M Radwan 2, D Slade 2, MA ElSohly 2, RR Matsumoto 1, AT El-Alfy 1
  • 1Pharmacology Department, School of Pharmacy,
  • 2National Center for Natural Products Research, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA

The Cannabis plant contains about 60 different cannabinoids, including the psychoactive component, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC). While the pharmacological actions of Δ9-THC have been extensively studied, other cannabinoid constituents have been largely neglected [1]. A recent interest in these compounds has emerged following the reported pharmacological interaction between cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-THC. Such interaction may have implications for understanding the long term consequences of marijuana users as well as the development of therapeutic uses for cannabis constituents. The current study evaluated the modulatory effect of a novel cannabinoid (SAAB-38-7) on Δ9-THC-induced hypolocomotion, catalepsy, hyperthermia, and antinociception, using the well established cannabinoid activity model (tetrad), as compared to the actions of CBD. In agreement with previous findings, at a dose of 100 mg/kg, CBD significantly (p < 0.05) antagonized the cataleptic action of Δ9-THC (20 mg/kg, i.p.) while it had no effect on the hypolocomotive, hypothermic, or antinociceptive actions. Compound SAAB-38-7 demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction of Δ9-THC-induced activity in the tetrad assay. Similar to CBD, compound SAAB-38-7 (10–40 mg/kg, i.p.) did not affect locomotor activity, catalepsy immobilization, rectal temperature, or nociception on its own. The collective data hence suggest a potential cannabinoid antagonist action of compound SAAB-38-7. Further characterization of such action is currently underway. Acknowledgements: The project described was supported by Grant Number P20RR021929 from the National Center For Research Resource and by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, contract # N01DA-5-7746. References: [1] ElSohly M, Slade D (2005). Life Sci. 78: 539–548.