glycerophospho-n-palmitoyl ethanolamine

N-Acylated ethanolamines (NAE) are naturally-occurring lipids that have diverse bioactivities. For example, arachidonoyl ethanolamide (AEA) is an endogenous neurotransmitter that evokes cellular responses by activating the cannabinoid receptors, central cannabinoid (CB1) and peripheral cannabinoid (CB2). The different types of NAE are derived from glycerophospho-linked precursors by the activity of glycerophosphodiesterase 1 (GDE1). Glycerophospho-N-palmitoyl ethanolamine (GP-NPEA) is the metabolic precursor of palmitoyl ethanolamide (PEA). PEA is an endogenous cannabinoid found in brain, liver, and other mammalian tissues, that has potent anti-inflammatory activity in vivo. PEA has low affinity for peripheral cannabinoid (CB2) and no appreciable affinity for central cannabinoid (CB1), suggesting that its efficacy is through a different receptor.