New cannabidiol (CBD) derivatives: Synthesis, anti-inflammatory activity, and molecular docking

A series of new cannabidiol (CBD) derivatives were synthesized by employing hydrogenation reaction and click chemistry. Then, the cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activities of cannabinoid derivatives were determined. Compound 14 was found to have low cytotoxicity and high anti-inflammatory activity, and the anti-inflammatory mechanism of compound 14 was preliminarily explored, which inhibited the synthesis and release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α. The experimental results were confirmed by docking analysis. The water solubility of compound 14 was determined. Based on the results, the structure-activity relationships (SARs) of the CBD derivatives were discussed for exploring novel anti-inflammatory drugs.