Computational Comparative Analysis of THC-A, THC-P, Delta-8, Delta-9, and Delta-10 on the CB1 Receptor.

With the emergence of novel Cannabidiol (CBD) stores and the passage of the 2018 Farm “loophole” Bill, more Americans are becoming familiar with cannabis and its various derivatives. However, this familiarization only came about after getting a little lost in the weeds. Rossheim et al. (2023) demonstrates this with their scientific article entitled “Delta-8, Delta-10, HHC, THC-O, THCP, and THCV: What Should We Call These Products?” where they attempt to bring clarity to the situation. Despite their attempts, there is still unfortunately very little known about THC and its many derivatives. For example, there are less than 60 papers published between the variants THCP and THC-O. Additionally, less than 700 articles across all delta variants have been published in the ACS journal. Of all the derivatives we analyzed, there have been less than 850 articles published in the same journal, highlighting the significant gap in research of these derivatives.  

This research aims to investigate the binding properties of THC-A, THC-P, Delta-8, Delta-9, and Delta-10 in relation to the CB1 receptor through computational analysis. Molecular docking is able to facilitate this study of their interactions, providing insight into how these derivatives engage with different amino acids at specific binding sites. These interactions may trigger unexpected or adverse effects, highlighting the importance of regulatory oversight. The findings from this study can serve as a foundation for governmental efforts to safeguard public health by identifying potentially addictive derivatives.