anandamide anandamide anandamide (ana), also known as n-arachidonoylethanolamine (aea), an n-acylethanolamine (nae), is a fatty acid neurotransmitter. anandamide was the first endocannabinoid to be discovered: it participates in the body's endocannabinoid system by binding to cannabinoid receptors, the same receptors that the psychoactive compound thc in cannabis acts on. anandamide is found in nearly all tissues in a wide range of animals. anandamide has also been found in plants, including small amounts in chocolate. the name 'anandamide' is taken from the sanskrit word ananda, which means "joy, bliss, delight", plus amide. anandamide names preferred iupac name (5z,8z,11z,14z)-n-(2-hydroxyethyl)icosa-5,8,11,14-tetraenamide other names n-arachidonoylethanolaminearachidonoylethanolamide identifiers cas number 94421-68-8 n 3d model (jsmol) interactive imageinteractive image chebi chebi:2700 y chembl chembl15848 y chemspider 4445241 y iuphar/bps 2364 mesh anandamide pubchem cid 5281969 unii ur5g69tjkh y inchi inchi=1s/c22h37no2/c1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-22(25)23-20-21-24/h6-7,9-10,12-13,15-16,24h,2-5,8,11,14,17-21h2,1h3,(h,23,25)/b7-6-,10-9-,13-12-,16-15- ykey: lgeqqwmqcriykg-dofzraljsa-n yinchi=1/c22h37no2/c1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-22(25)23-20-21-24/h6-7,9-10,12-13,15-16,24h,2-5,8,11,14,17-21h2,1h3,(h,23,25)/b7-6-,10-9-,13-12-,16-15-key: lgeqqwmqcriykg-dofzraljba smiles o=c(ncco)ccc\c=c/c\c=c/c\c=c/c\c=c/cccccccccc/c=c\c/c=c\c/c=c\c/c=c\cccc(=o)ncco properties chemical formula c22h37no2 molar mass 347.53 g/mol except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °c , 100 kpa). n verify (what is yn ?) infobox references anandamide is derived from the non-oxidative metabolism of arachidonic acid, an essential omega-6 fatty acid. it is synthesized from n-arachidonoyl phosphatidylethanolamine by multiple pathways. it is degraded primarily by the fatty acid amide hydrolase (faah) enzyme, which converts anandamide into ethanolamine and arachidonic acid. as such, inhibitors of faah lead to elevated anandamide levels and are being pursued for therapeutic use. anandamide is also being explored for its role in diabetic neuropathy/neuropathy as well as in reduction of inflammation associated with renal injury. physiological functions