2-AG2-Arachidonoylglycerol

1,3-dihydroxypropan-2-yl (5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)-icosa-5,8,11,14-tetraenoate

Aliases.2-Arachidonoylglycerol · Sn-2-AG

The principal endocannabinoid by brain concentration, a full CB1/CB2 agonist. Target of the MAGL inhibitors in clinical development.

Updated on 1 May 2026

Level of detail

Identifiers

Formula: C₂₃H₃₈O₄
Molar mass: 378.55 g·mol⁻¹
CAS: 53847-30-6
PubChem CID: 5282280
First described: 1995
Origin: Endocannabinoid
InChIKey: RCRCTBLIHCHWDZ-DOFZRALJSA-N

In plain terms

2-AG is the other natural messenger of your endocannabinoid system - produced in far greater quantity than anandamide. It acts strongly and briefly, then is broken down within minutes by an enzyme called MAGL.

Receptors and activity

CB1
Ki ≈ 472 nM (Sugiura 1995)Agonist
CB2
Ki ≈ 1400 nMAgonist

Agonist
Partial agonist
Antagonist
Modulator
Inverse agonist

Hover over a row for the precise value (Ki, EC50…)

Subjective signature

Hover over an axis to read its definition.

Calm
65
Clarity
60
Sleep
45
Appetite
70
High
60

Editorial estimate, not clinical.

Pharmacology

2-AG (2-arachidonoylglycerol) is the most abundant endocannabinoid in the brain (≈ 200× the concentration of AEA). Sutton et al. (1995) and Mechoulam et al. (1995) characterised it independently. Unlike anandamide, it is a full agonist - not a partial one - at CB1, which makes it the principal messenger of retrograde depression of neurotransmission at the synapse. It is degraded by MAGL; the MAGL inhibitors (KML29, MJN110, ABX-1431) are in clinical development for chronic pain and Tourette syndrome.

Key sources.