MAM-2201 (4'-methyl-AM-2201, 5"-fluoro-JWH-122) is a drug that presumably acts as a potent

agonist An agonist is a chemical that activates a receptor to produce a biological response. Receptors are cellular proteins whose activation causes the cell to modify what it is currently doing. In contrast, an antagonist blocks the action of the ago ...

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. It had never previously been reported in the scientific or patent literature, and was first identified by laboratories in the Netherlands and Germany in June 2011 as an ingredient in

synthetic cannabis Synthetic cannabinoids are a class of designer drug molecules that bind to the same receptors to which cannabinoids (THC, CBD and many others) in cannabis plants attach. These novel psychoactive substances should not be confused with synthetic ...

smoking blends. Like

RCS-4 RCS-4, or 1-pentyl-3-(4-methoxybenzoyl)indole, is a synthetic cannabinoid drug sold under the names SR-19, BTM-4, or Eric-4 (later shortened to E-4), but originally, OBT-199. Pharmacology RCS-4 is a potent cannabinoid receptor agonist, with EC ...

and

AB-001 AB-001 (1-pentyl-3-(1-adamantoyl)indole) is a designer drug that was found as an ingredient in synthetic cannabis smoking blends in Ireland in 2010 and Hungary and Germany in 2011. It is unclear who AB-001 was originally developed by, but it is ...

, MAM-2201 thus appears to be a novel compound invented by "

research chemical Research chemicals are chemical substances used by scientists for medical and scientific research purposes. One characteristic of a research chemical is that it is for laboratory research use only; a research chemical is not intended for human o ...

" suppliers specifically for grey-market recreational use. Structurally, MAM-2201 is a hybrid of two known cannabinoid compounds

JWH-122 JWH-122 is a synthetic cannabimimetic that was discovered by John W. Huffman. It is a methylated analogue of JWH-018. It has a Ki of 0.69 nM at CB1 and 1.2 nM at CB2. In January 2015, over 40 people were reportedly sickened after eating a holid ...

and

AM-2201 AM-2201 (1-(5-fluoropentyl)-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole) is a recreational designer drug that acts as a potent but nonselective full agonist for the cannabinoid receptor. It is part of the AM series of cannabinoids discovered by Alexandros Makriyannis ...

, both of which had previously been used as active ingredients in synthetic cannabis blends before being banned in many countries. A study of MAM-2201 in rats showed that it causes neurofunctional disruptions.

Legal status

In the United States, all CB₁ receptor agonists of the 3-(1-naphthoyl)indole class such as MAM-2201 are

Schedule I Controlled Substance This is the list of Schedule I drugs as defined by the United States Controlled Substances Act. 21 CFRbr>1308.11(CSA Sched I) with changes through (Oct 18, 2012). Retrieved September 6, 2013. The following findings are required for drugs to be pl ...

s. MAM-2201 has been banned by being added to the

temporary class drug A temporary class drug is a relatively new status for controlled drugs, which has been adopted in some jurisdictions, notably New Zealand and the United Kingdom, to attempt to bring newly synthesised designer drugs under legal control. The controll ...

schedule in New Zealand, effective from 13 July 2012. As of October 2015 MAM-2201 is a controlled substance in China.

References

{{Cannabinoids Naphthoylindoles Designer drugs Organofluorides CB1 receptor agonists CB2 receptor agonists

Legal status

See also

References