Abstract
The discovery of anandamide as an endogenous ligand for the cannabinoid receptors has led to a resurgence of interest in the fatty acid amides. However, N-palmitoylethanolamine (PEA), a shorter and fully saturated analogue of anandamide, has been known since the fifties. This endogenous compound is a member of the N-acylethanolamines, found in most mammalian tissues. PEA is accumulated during inflam-mation and has been demonstrated to have a number of anti-inflammatory effects, including beneficial effects in clinically relevant animal models of inflammatory pain. It is now engaged in phase II clinical development, and two studies regarding the treatment of chronic lumbosciatalgia and multiple sclerosis are in progress. However, its precise mechanism of action remains debated. In the present review, the biochemical and pharmacological properties of PEA are discussed, in particular with respect to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Keywords: Palmitoylethanolamide, anandamide, cannabinoid, N-acylethanolamines, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, N-palmitoylethanolamine, N-oleoylethanolamine, Tetrahydrocannabinol, Amide Hydrolase
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title: The Palmitoylethanolamide Family: A New Class of Anti-Inflammatory Agents ?
Volume: 9 Issue: 6
Author(s): Didier M. Lambert, Severine Vandevoorde, Kent-Olov Jonsson and Christopher J. Fowler
Affiliation:
Keywords: Palmitoylethanolamide, anandamide, cannabinoid, N-acylethanolamines, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, N-palmitoylethanolamine, N-oleoylethanolamine, Tetrahydrocannabinol, Amide Hydrolase
Abstract: The discovery of anandamide as an endogenous ligand for the cannabinoid receptors has led to a resurgence of interest in the fatty acid amides. However, N-palmitoylethanolamine (PEA), a shorter and fully saturated analogue of anandamide, has been known since the fifties. This endogenous compound is a member of the N-acylethanolamines, found in most mammalian tissues. PEA is accumulated during inflam-mation and has been demonstrated to have a number of anti-inflammatory effects, including beneficial effects in clinically relevant animal models of inflammatory pain. It is now engaged in phase II clinical development, and two studies regarding the treatment of chronic lumbosciatalgia and multiple sclerosis are in progress. However, its precise mechanism of action remains debated. In the present review, the biochemical and pharmacological properties of PEA are discussed, in particular with respect to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
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Cite this article as:
Lambert M. Didier, Vandevoorde Severine, Jonsson Kent-Olov and Fowler J. Christopher, The Palmitoylethanolamide Family: A New Class of Anti-Inflammatory Agents ?, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2002; 9 (6) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867023370707
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867023370707 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
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