Israeli researchers Raphael Mechoulam and Yehiel Gaoni identified THC as the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis in the mid- 1960s . About twenty years later, scientists discovered special receptors in the human nervous system to which THC binds. As a result, Mechoulam and his research team found a natural , i.e. endogenous, cannabinoid . They called it anandamide, based on the Indian Sanskrit term “ananda” . It represents bliss. The discovery was the starting signal for research into the endo cannabinoid system , which continues to this day.
The endocannabinoid system (ECS ) is a biological system in the human body . It plays an important role in regulating various physiological processes to maintain balance in the body, also known as homeostasis . The ECS consists of three main components:
Endocannabinoids
These are endogenous cannabinoid compounds that the body produces itself. The most important endocannabinoids include anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG).
Receptors
There are two main types of cannabinoid receptors in the ECS, known as CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are mainly present in the central nervous system , in particular in the brain, while CB2 receptors are found predominantly in peripheral tissues, including the immune system .
Enzymes
Enzymes are for responsible for the synthesis and breakdown of endocannabinoids. Two important enzymes in the ECS are fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), which is responsible for the degradation of anandamide , and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), which degrades 2-AG .
The ECS plays a key role in regulating various functions in the body:
Appetite and metabolism
Sleep
Mood and stress reactions
Immune function
Sensation of pain
Inflammation
Cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, such as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), also interact with the cannabinoid receptors in the ECS and have various effects on the body.
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