THC + Sea Urchins = New Drugs

[alphacat]

Chem Lab: Sea Urchin Eggs Plus Marijuana Equal Amazing New Drugs

Chemists have created a collection of molecules that may have effects superior to marijuana. They are hybrids of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in weed, and anandamide, the euphoria-causing chemical found in sea urchin eggs.

Researchers intend to use the hybrids as tools to better understand the endocannabinoid system, which partially controls pleasure and pain signals.

In the December issue of Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, scientists from Organix, a small research and development firm, explained that THC and anandamide each have their own unique advantages and disadvantages.

Anandamide starts working faster than its marijuana-derived counterpart, but it is more quickly destroyed by the body. A fusion of the two chemicals may last longer while maintaining an equal or stronger effect.

At the beginning of the project, organic chemists made a bunch of slightly different molecules that resembled both of their natural inspirations -- THC and anandamide. Once those chemicals had been synthesized, other researchers tested them on the proteins that are stimulated by marijuana.

Checking the effects of slight tweaks to the shape of a molecule is called SAR -- a structure-activity relationship study. Although the researchers at Organix did not comment on the recreational potential of their new chemicals, their SAR data makes it very clear that the new drugs push the same pleasure buttons as THC and anandamide.

Toward the end of the study, they gave the best experimental chemicals to mice. Small amounts of the most potent molecule prevented them from pulling their tails away from a hot surface. That test, called a tail-flick assay, showed that the new drug is a rather powerful painkiller.

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2007/11/chem-lab-hybrid.html

 

[Guest]

The only problem with these scientific studies is they never mention when a new drug is expected to hit the streets. Can't wait for this one.

 

[Sammet]

Sounds like this will be a long time away. Tail-flicks are v early in drug development, and approval for human trialling is along way off.

Still, good to see this sort of thing going on. And that mice now have another killer drug to help dull the effects of those evil scientists

 

[Jack Crevalle]

uni and thc, where?

 

[Jack Crevalle]

I see it all now, DEA will make sea urchins illegal.

 

[Haps]

OK, I got the urchins and the buds, but the urchins won't eat the buds, what is the technique?
Hehap

 

[blAsia]

Let's promote the continued torturing of other species just to see what happens. F'in scientists need to have needles shoved in their asses occasionally so there is no doubt that they are not GODS.

Let's use a killer drug... alcohol. So, they get wasted and are thrown in a furnace to see if they can get out. If not, I guess they fail.

 

[Guest]

lol blasia what are you so worried about. it's not like the sea urchins can feel pain. they have no nervous system

 

[blAsia]

The mice, man the mice. Well, lots of other species... I believe we are only one of many and we really have been cruel and overly careless about the actual costs of killing for "sport" (not for food--use every part if game animal) or any other synonym you can find... that, to me, really and absolutely sucks big time. All the way to extinction for so many and almost there for countless others (if you really look at past numbers).


Also inject them with anything man can think of. No other species even comes close to the destructive and cruel power of man...it all comes down to choice.

 

[Verite]

Kinda funny since I was recently discussing the future of extractions with MIPs and this exact kind of process can be done using a custom made MIP to combine different molecules to form one compound. I posed the question what molecule you would add to THC to make something unique, who knew it would be urchin material.

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=71696

 

[Guest]

going to throw some sea urchins in my res asap!

 

[guineapig]

Designer THC molecules, eh?

interesting stuff, to say the least.....

kind regards from guineapig

 

[Sam_Skunkman]

You misunderstand what they said. They have not used anything from the urchins they used Anandamide/THC hybrids to look for new compounds that will help research or testing for medicine.

-SamS

 

[Comatose]

Let's promote the continued torturing of other species just to see what happens. F'in scientists need to have needles shoved in their asses occasionally so there is no doubt that they are not GODS.

The mice, man the mice. Well, lots of other species... I believe we are only one of many and we really have been cruel and overly careless about the actual costs of killing for "sport" (not for food--use every part if game animal) or any other synonym you can find... that, to me, really and absolutely sucks big time. All the way to extinction for so many and almost there for countless others (if you really look at past numbers).


Also inject them with anything man can think of. No other species even comes close to the destructive and cruel power of man...it all comes down to choice.

I agree that we should use every part of the animals that we kill. I also agree that it is horrible to kill animals that are endangered, but mice ain't gonna go anywhere, and they are the source of food for many animals. My point that I am trying to get to is that, you have to remember with out science and scientist you would be lucky to live past 45, as the average life span in 1900 was 45, and was less and less in the decades before. All the medications you take for granted was because of science. Because of scientist our life span has doubled and we don't have people dropping dead because of common colds. I know that I wouldn't be typing this right now if it wasn't for modern medicine, and I am sure I am not the only one. Just my

 

[Dkgrower]

hey alphacat, thank you fore the link.

Always nice to hear what goes on at the science frontiere,

 

[Sammet]

lol blasia what are you so worried about. it's not like the sea urchins can feel pain. they have no nervous system

That is incorrect. If they had no nervous system they wouldn't be able to see, walk around, mate, respond to stimuli, etc. In fact, Sea Urchins and humans are more related than you think:

http://www.livescience.com/animals/061109_urchin_relatives.html

 

[PoppinFresh]

no thanks... if God ain't grow it, i won't toke it! sitting there synthesizing chemicals and shit, sounds like a new cocaine or some shit like that. only God and the pharmaceutical companies know what addictive new drug they are trying to make to replace cheap (cheaper if legalized) and effective marijuana. **** their new oxycontin pills.

 

[blAsia]

I agree that we should use every part of the animals that we kill. I also agree that it is horrible to kill animals that are endangered, but mice ain't gonna go anywhere, and they are the source of food for many animals. My point that I am trying to get to is that, you have to remember with out science and scientist you would be lucky to live past 45, as the average life span in 1900 was 45, and was less and less in the decades before. All the medications you take for granted was because of science. Because of scientist our life span has doubled and we don't have people dropping dead because of common colds. I know that I wouldn't be typing this right now if it wasn't for modern medicine, and I am sure I am not the only one. Just my

I know... it is a fine line. But still, are we so much better than any other species? If aliens did come, would we fight, resist, or say, I understand, you just want to experiment on me like the Nazi Doctors of passed...okay. Let me lay down first, then you can strap me down and begin the torture.

 

[Comatose]

I know... it is a fine line. But still, are we so much better than any other species? If aliens did come, would we fight, resist, or say, I understand, you just want to experiment on me like the Nazi Doctors of passed...okay. Let me lay down first, then you can strap me down and begin the torture.

Now comparing me to a Nazi Doctor is a load of BS, very ignorant too, as I have family and friends that are jewish. Did I ever say in my post that we were better than any other species, NO. Im not even gonna talk about aliens lmao. I wasn't attacking you at anyway, all I was saying is dont take for granted modern medicine and the scientist that discovered modern medicine, because it has saved my life and I am sure at some point in your life you went down to the pharmacy and got some medicine to get well too. In fact most pharmaceutical companys in the US pay their volunteers money [key word: volunteers] to test new drugs that will be put on the market.

 

[blAsia]

What...??? Not you. Dr. Mengele was an experimental Dr. Aliens... the aliens.

My point was that the human species, from my POV would resist, even if it benefited an "alien" species to torture and conduct experiments on other life forms.

I don't feel anything for this thread that is negative towards posts... unless you are involved with some absolutely abusive actions.

I am sure that medical research has saved many humans, and possibly other species, but does it make it right? Right in the terms of Universal nature? We all reap the rewards of the important research, but is it right to think we are MORE important than other species?

With that said...I doubt any other species have volunteered , but are used none the less, right?