(-) 3 Isothujone, a small nonnitrogenous molecule with antinociceptive activity in mice

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jm00230a015

(-) 3 isothujone and (+) 3 thujone were examined for antinociceptive activity using the hot plate and Nilsen tests. In the hot plate test (-) 3 isothujone (ED₅₀ = 6.5 mg/kg) was found to be codeine like and equipotent with (-) Δ⁹ tetrahydrocannabinol while the racemic material was essentially half as potent as the levorotatory isomer. (+) 3 Thyjone was inactive in both antinociceptive tests as were several structural analogues of the 3 thujones. As with the THC's less antinociceptive activity was observed in the Nilsen test than in the hot plate assay. Acute toxicities for the 3 thujones were determined and vastly improved synthetic procedures have been developed for two long known but difficultly accessible 3 thujanols.