Leelamine (dehydroabietylamine) is a
diterpene
Diterpenes are a class of chemical compounds composed of four isoprene units, often with the molecular formula C20H32. They are biosynthesized by plants, animals and fungi via the HMG-CoA reductase pathway, with geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate being ...
amine
In chemistry, amines (, ) are compounds and functional groups that contain a basic nitrogen atom with a lone pair. Amines are formally derivatives of ammonia (), wherein one or more hydrogen atoms have been replaced by a substituen ...
that has weak affinity for the
cannabinoid receptor
Cannabinoid receptors, located throughout the body, are part of the endocannabinoid system a class of cell membrane receptors in the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily. As is typical of G protein-coupled receptors, the cannabinoid recepto ...
s
CB1 and
CB2, as well as being an inhibitor of
pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase
Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (also pyruvate dehydrogenase complex kinase, PDC kinase, or PDK; ) is a kinase enzyme which acts to inactivate the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase by phosphorylating it using ATP.
PDK thus participates in the regula ...
.
Optically active leelamine is also used as a
chiral resolving agent for carboxylic acids. Leelamine has been shown to be effective against certain cancer cells, independent from its activity on CB receptors or PDK1 - it accumulates inside the acidic lysosomes leading to disruption of intracellular cholesterol transport, autophagy and endocytosis followed by cell death.
See also
*
Abietic acid
Abietic acid (also known as ''abietinic acid'' or ''sylvic acid'') is an organic compound that occurs widely in trees. It is the primary component of resin acid, is the primary irritant in pine wood and resin, isolated from rosin (via isomerizat ...
References
External links
Simple Leaf CBD
Amines
Cannabinoids
Diterpene alkaloids
Isopropyl compounds
Phenanthrenes
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