DIMETHYLHEPTYL-THC-11 OIC ACID - A NONPSYCHOACTIVE ANTIINFLAMMATORY AGENT WITH A CANNABINOID TEMPLATE STRUCTURE

Objective. To assess the antiinflammatory activity of dimethylheptyl-T HC-11 oic acid (DMH-11C), a nonpsychoactive synthetic derivative of te trahydrocannabinol. Methods. Acute inflammation was induced by injecti on of interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha into subcutan eous air pouches formed on the backs of mice. Inflammation was quantif ied 6 hours later by pouch fluid leukocyte counts. Adjuvant-induced po lyarthritis in rats was used as a model of chronic inflammation and jo int tissue injury. Animals were either untreated, treated with safflow er oil, or treated with DMH-11C in safflower oil, Arthritis was assess ed by clinical observation and by histomorphologic evaluation of tibio tarsal joints. Results. Oral administration of DMH-11C reduced the acc umulation of pouch fluid leukocytes and significantly reduced the seve rity of adjuvant-induced polyarthritis. Histopathologic studies of tib iotarsal joints showed that DMH-11C treatment attenuated pannus format ion and joint tissue injury. Conclusion. DMH-11C suppresses acute infl ammation in the subcutaneous air pouch in mice and chronic joint infla mmation characteristic of adjuvant disease in rats. These results demo nstrate the potential use of this nonpsychoactive cannabinoid as an an tiinflammatory agent.