Anandamide

Anandamide, also called N-arachidonoylethanolamine or AEA, is an endogenous lipid messenger in the endocannabinoid system. It is made from membrane lipid precursors and can bind cannabinoid receptors, particularly CB1. Its name derives from a Sanskrit word associated with bliss, but physiologically it is one signaling molecule in a broad regulatory network rather than a dedicated pleasure chemical .^1,2

Anandamide is generally produced on demand and acts locally. In the nervous system it can modulate neurotransmitter release, while in peripheral tissues it participates in processes involving pain, appetite, stress, reproduction, immune signaling, and metabolism. Its actions depend on receptor distribution, local concentration, and interaction with other signaling systems .^1,2

Anandamide is distinct from 2-arachidonoylglycerol, or 2-AG, the other major endocannabinoid. The two differ in chemical structure, abundance, receptor efficacy, and metabolic pathways. Anandamide is degraded mainly by fatty acid amide hydrolase, or FAAH, whereas 2-AG is largely degraded by monoacylglycerol lipase. It is also distinct from THC, a plant cannabinoid that can activate some of the same receptors but is not naturally produced by the human body .¹