Δ9- cis-Tetrahydrocannabinol: Natural Occurrence, Chirality, and Pharmacology

J Nat Prod. 2021 Sep 24;84(9):2502-2510. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c00513. Epub 2021 Jul 25.

Abstract

The cis-stereoisomers of Δ9-THC [(-)-3 and (+)-3] were identified and quantified in a series of low-THC-containing varieties of Cannabis sativa registered in Europe as fiber hemp and in research accessions of cannabis. While Δ9-cis-THC (3) occurs in cannabis fiber hemp in the concentration range of (-)-Δ9-trans-THC [(-)-1], it was undetectable in a sample of high-THC-containing medicinal cannabis. Natural Δ9-cis-THC (3) is scalemic (ca. 80-90% enantiomeric purity), and the absolute configuration of the major enantiomer was established as 6aS,10aR [(-)-3] by chiral chromatographic comparison with a sample available by asymmetric synthesis. The major enantiomer, (-)-Δ9-cis-THC [(-)-3], was characterized as a partial cannabinoid agonist in vitro and elicited a full tetrad response in mice at 50 mg/kg doses. The current legal discrimination between narcotic and non-narcotic cannabis varieties centers on the contents of "Δ9-THC and isomers" and needs therefore revision, or at least a more specific wording, to account for the presence of Δ9-cis-THCs [(+)-3 and (-)-3] in cannabis fiber hemp varieties.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cannabinoids / agonists*
  • Cannabis / chemistry
  • Dronabinol / chemistry
  • Dronabinol / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Molecular Structure
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Cannabinoids
  • Dronabinol