11-Hydroxy-Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-Δ⁹-THC, alternatively numbered as 7-OH-Δ¹-THC), usually referred to as 11-hydroxy-THC, is the main active

metabolite In biochemistry, a metabolite is an intermediate or end product of metabolism. The term is usually used for small molecules. Metabolites have various functions, including fuel, structure, signaling, stimulatory and inhibitory effects on enzymes, c ...

of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is formed in the body after THC is consumed. After cannabis consumption, THC is

metabolized Metabolism (, from el, μεταβολή ''metabolē'', "change") is the set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms. The three main functions of metabolism are: the conversion of the energy in food to energy available to run cell ...

inside the body by

cytochrome P450 Cytochromes P450 (CYPs) are a Protein superfamily, superfamily of enzymes containing heme as a cofactor (biochemistry), cofactor that functions as monooxygenases. In mammals, these proteins oxidize steroids, fatty acids, and xenobiotics, and are ...

enzymes such as CYP2C9 and

CYP3A4 Cytochrome P450 3A4 (abbreviated CYP3A4) () is an important enzyme in the body, mainly found in the liver and in the intestine. It oxidizes small foreign organic molecules (xenobiotics), such as toxins or drugs, so that they can be removed from t ...

into 11-hydroxy-THC and then further metabolized by the dehydrogenase and CYP2C9 enzyme to form

11-nor-9-carboxy-THC 11-Nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-COOH-THC or THC-COOH), often referred to as 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC or THC-11-oic acid, is the main secondary metabolite of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is formed in the body after cannabis is consu ...

(THC-COOH) which is inactive at the CB1 receptors; and further glucuronidated to form 11-nor-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid glucuronide (delta-9-THC-COOH-glu) where it is excreted in both feces and urine. Both compounds, along with THC, can be assayed in drug tests. 11-hydroxy-THC can be formed after consumption of THC from inhalation (vaping, smoking) and oral (by mouth, edible, sublingual) use, although levels of 11-hydroxy-THC are typically higher when eaten compared to inhalation.

Pharmacology

In an analysis by the University of Rhode Island on cannabinoids it was found that 11-OH-D9-THC had the 3rd highest

3C-like protease The 3C-like protease (3CLpro) or main protease (Mpro), formally known as C30 endopeptidase or 3-chymotrypsin-like protease, is the main protease found in coronaviruses. It cleaves the coronavirus polyprotein at eleven conserved sites. It is a cy ...

inhibitor activity against COVID-19 out of all the cannabinoids tested within that study but not as high as the

antiviral drug Antiviral drugs are a class of medication used for treating viral infections. Most antivirals target specific viruses, while a broad-spectrum antiviral is effective against a wide range of viruses. Unlike most antibiotics, antiviral drugs do n ...

GC376 (56% 11-OH-D9-THC) vs 100% GC376). The pharmacokinetic equivalency was studied in 2015 comparing Delta-9-THC with 11-Hydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and found "The base pharmacokinetic equivalency ratio is 1 to 5.71. This means that one milligram of THC in edible form, is equivalent to 5.71 milligrams of THC in smokable form."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hydroxy-THC, 11- Cannabinoids Benzochromenes Primary alcohols Phenols Prodrugs

Pharmacology

See also

References