Biosynthesis of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid  (THCA). In the first step, geranyl pyrophosphate and olivetolic acid form cannabigerolic acid, which is then enzymatically rearranged to THCA in the second step. Cannabigerolic acid  (CBGA ) is the acidic form of cannabigerol  (CBG). It is a dihydroxybenzoic acid  and olivetolic acid  in which the hydrogen at position 3 is substituted by a geranyl group. It is a biosynthetic precursor to Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol , which is the principal psychoactive constituent of the Cannabis meroterpenoid  (i.e. a polyketide  and a terpenoid ), a member of resorcinols and a phytocannabinoid . It derives from an olivetolic acid. It is a conjugate acid of a cannabigerolate.[ 1] 
In the Cannabis  plant, olivetolic acid and geranyl diphosphate  are synthesized into CBGA.[ 2] : 6  [ 3] : 17  CBDA synthase  and THCA synthase  into CBCA , CBDA  and THCA  respectively.[ 2] : 6–7  
References 
Phytocannabinoids comparison )
Cannabibutols Cannabichromenes Cannabicyclols Cannabidiols Cannabielsoins Cannabigerols Cannabiphorols Cannabinols 
CBN 
CBNA 
CBN-C1 
CBN-C2 
CBN-C4 
CBNM CBND 
CBNP
 
CBVD
  Cannabitriols Cannabivarins Delta-3-tetrahydrocannabinols Delta-4-tetrahydrocannabinols Delta-7-tetrahydrocannabinols Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinols Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinols Delta-10-Tetrahydrocannabinols Delta-11-Tetrahydrocannabinols Miscellaneous cannabinoids Active metabolites 
Endocannabinoids Synthetic 
Classical cannabinoids Non-classical Adamantoylindoles Benzimidazoles Benzoylindoles Cyclohexylphenols Eicosanoids Indazole-3- Indole-3-carboxamides Indole-3-carboxylates Naphthoylindazoles Naphthoylindoles Naphthoylpyrroles Naphthylmethylindenes Naphthylmethylindoles Phenylacetylindoles Pyrazolecarboxamides Tetramethylcyclo- Tetramethylcyclo- Others 
Allosteric  CBR Tooltip Cannabinoid receptor  ligands Endocannabinoid (inactivation inhibitors) Anticannabinoids (antagonists/inverse 
TRPA 
Activators 
4-Hydroxynonenal 4-Oxo-2-nonenal 5,6-EET 12S-HpETE 15-Deoxy-Δ12,14 -prostaglandin J2 α-Sanshool  (ginger , Sichuan  and melegueta peppers )Acrolein Allicin  (garlic )Allyl isothiocyanate  (mustard , radish , horseradish , wasabi )AM404 ASP-7663 Bradykinin Cannabichromene  (cannabis )Cannabidiol  (cannabis )Cannabigerol  (cannabis )Cinnamaldehyde  (cinnamon )CR gas (dibenzoxazepine; DBO) CS gas (2-chlorobenzal malononitrile) Cuminaldehyde  (cumin )Curcumin  (turmeric )Dehydroligustilide (celery ) 
Diallyl disulfide Dicentrine  (Lindera Farnesyl thiosalicylic acid 
Formalin Gingerols  (ginger )Hepoxilin A3 Hepoxilin B3 Hydrogen peroxide Icilin Isothiocyanate JT-010 Ligustilide  (celery , Angelica acutiloba Linalool  (Sichuan pepper , thyme )Methylglyoxal Methyl salicylate  (wintergreen )N-Methylmaleimide Nicotine  (tobacco )Oleocanthal  (olive oil )Paclitaxel  (Pacific yew )Paracetamol (acetaminophen) PF-4840154 Phenacyl chloride Polygodial  (Dorrigo pepper )Shogaols  (ginger , Sichuan  and melegueta peppers )Tear gases Tetrahydrocannabinol  (cannabis )Tetrahydrocannabiorcol Thiopropanal S-oxide  (onion )Umbellulone  (Umbellularia californica )WIN 55,212-2  Blockers 
TRPC 
TRPM 
TRPML 
TRPP 
TRPV 
Activators 
2-APB 5,6-EET 9-HODE 9-oxoODE 12S-HETE 12S-HpETE 13-HODE 13-oxoODE 20-HETE α-Sanshool  (ginger , Sichuan  and melegueta peppers )Allicin  (garlic )AM404 Anandamide Bisandrographolide (Andrographis paniculata  
Camphor  (camphor laurel , rosemary , camphorweed , African blue basil , camphor basil )Cannabidiol  (cannabis )Cannabidivarin  (cannabis )Capsaicin  (chili pepper )Carvacrol  (oregano , thyme , pepperwort , wild bergamot , others)DHEA Diacyl glycerol Dihydrocapsaicin  (chili pepper )Estradiol Eugenol  (basil , clove )Evodiamine  (Euodia ruticarpa Gingerols  (ginger )GSK1016790A Heat Hepoxilin A3 Hepoxilin B3 Homocapsaicin  (chili pepper )Homodihydrocapsaicin  (chili pepper )Incensole  (incense )Lysophosphatidic acid Low pH  (acidic conditions) 
Menthol  (mint )N-Arachidonoyl dopamine N-Oleoyldopamine 
N-Oleoylethanolamide Nonivamide (PAVA)  (PAVA spray )Nordihydrocapsaicin  (chili pepper )Paclitaxel  (Pacific yew )Paracetamol (acetaminophen) Phenylacetylrinvanil Phorbol esters  (e.g., 4α-PDD)Piperine  (black pepper , long pepper )Polygodial  (Dorrigo pepper )Probenecid Protons RhTx Rutamarin (Ruta graveolens  
Resiniferatoxin  (RTX) (Euphorbia resinifera /pooissonii Shogaols  (ginger , Sichuan  and melegueta peppers )Tetrahydrocannabivarin  (cannabis )Thymol  (thyme , oregano )Tinyatoxin  (Euphorbia resinifera /pooissonii Tramadol Vanillin  (vanilla )Zucapsaicin  Blockers 
See also:  Receptor/signaling modulators • Ion channel modulators