Author Archives: David Worrell

In Silico Screening of Cannabis sativa Phytochemicals as Potential Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitors for Anti-Leishmanial Drug-Prioritized Compound Development

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“Leishmaniasis remains a major neglected tropical disease with limited therapeutic options, increasing drug resistance, and significant treatment-associated toxicity. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), which plays an essential role in polyamine synthesis and survival of parasites, is a potential molecular target for the discovery of anti-leishmanial agents.

In this study, 49 natural products with bioactive properties, such as cannabinoids, terpenoids, flavonoids, polyphenols, and alkaloids, are evaluated against ODC using computational approaches like molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.

During molecular docking analysis, some compounds showed good affinity binding to the ODC catalytic site, namely Sanguinarine (-8.53 kcal/mol), Rutin (-8.15 kcal/mol), Evodiamine (-7.83 kcal/mol), Cannabinol (-7.58 kcal/mol), and β-sitosterol (-7.56 kcal/mol). Analysis of protein-ligand complex interactions showed that these compounds formed hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions, π-alkyl contacts, π-cation contacts, and van der Waals forces in the vicinity of the active-site amino acid residue. For further analysis, MD simulations were performed for 100 ns on the best-docking complexes. Comparative trajectory analysis of RMSD, RMSF, Rg, SASA, and hydrogen bonds was conducted, revealing that Rutin and Evodiamine exhibited relatively high structural stability and consistent interactions within the ODC binding cavity.

Overall, this study indicates that the natural compounds analyzed here could be considered promising hit compounds for anti-leishmanial drug discovery against ODC. However, further investigations using experimental techniques are required to confirm their biological properties and efficacy.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42589139

“Leishmaniasis is considered a neglected tropical disease due to limited treatment options, increasing resistance to prioritized compounds, and high toxicity associated with treatment, necessitating the exploration of new potential treatment approaches with improved safety profiles.

In this research, computational tools were used to evaluate the efficacy of certain natural bioactive compounds on Ornithine Decarboxylase, which is a key enzyme involved in parasite viability. Molecular docking found several compounds, including Sanguinarine, Rutin, Evodiamine, Cannabinol, and β-sitosterol, with good binding energy and interaction patterns. Further, molecular dynamics studies showed that Rutin and Evodiamine had relatively stable interactions with the protein target.

Overall, the current findings suggest that selected natural compounds could serve as potential candidates for prioritized compound development in the treatment of leishmaniasis.”

https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/15/15/1272

Design, Synthesis, In Silico and In Vitro Pharmacological Profiling of Cannabidiol-like Synthetic Analogues as Multi-Target Anti-Alzheimer’s Agents

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“Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder that requires therapeutic agents capable of targeting multiple pathological pathways.

In this study, a series of cannabidiol (CBD)-like hydrazone derivatives (3a–i) was synthesized and characterized by NMR, HRMS, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction for compound 3i.

In silico ADME analysis predicted favorable drug-like properties, including compliance with Lipinski’s Rule of Five, oral bioavailability, and blood-brain barrier permeability. The compounds were evaluated for cholinesterase inhibition, antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity in neuronal cell lines, and binding interactions with human butyrylcholinesterase (hBChE) by molecular docking. Biological evaluation revealed a marked preference for BChE over acetylcholinesterase (AChE).

Compound 3f was the most potent BChE inhibitor (IC50 = 1.67 ± 0.11 μM), while compounds 3b and 3f demonstrated high selectivity toward BChE. Antioxidant assays (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and FTC) indicated moderate, mechanism-dependent activity. Compounds 3b and 3e showed the strongest ABTS radical-scavenging effects, whereas compounds 3b and 3f provided the greatest protection against lipid peroxidation, surpassing CBD under the tested conditions. Several derivatives, particularly 3a, 3b, 3f, 3h, and 3i, exhibited favorable safety profiles in SH-SY5Y and Neuro-2a cells. Molecular docking supported the experimental findings.

Overall, compounds 3b and 3f emerged as promising multifunctional leads for the development of multitarget-directed anti-Alzheimer agents.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42588505

“Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid derived from Cannabis sativa, has emerged as a promising multitarget neuroprotective agent for Alzheimer’s disease (AD).”

https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/15/2657

Endocannabinoid system attenuates emotional stress-induced orofacial musculoskeletal pain in rats

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“Orofacial musculoskeletal pain (OMP) is a common feature of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), a group of conditions affecting the temporomandibular joint, chewing muscles, and associated structures.

The etiology of muscular TMD is currently understood within a biopsychosocial model of pain, highlighting the complexity related to OMP. In this context, the objective of this study was to investigate the OMP induced by psychological/emotional stress (ES) in rats, regarding the role of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) through CB1 and CB2 receptors.

Male Wistar rats were divided into Control and ES groups. OMP was induced by ES using the communication box model and evaluated through the mechanical threshold in masticatory muscles. c-Fos, CB1, and CB2 immunostaining was evaluated in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) and in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (Sp5C). The selective CB1 or CB2 antagonist (AM251 or AM630, respectively) or the cannabinoid receptor non-selective agonist (WIN55,212-2) were administered to both groups, and the OMP was evaluated. The mechanical sensitivity of the masticatory muscles increased in the ES group, accompanied by increased c-Fos expression in the TG and Sp5C. AM251 and AM630 increased mechanical sensitivity, while WIN55,212-2 decreased the OMP. Furthermore, ES increased CB1 density in the TG and elevated both CB1 and CB2 in the Sp5C. Additionally, CB2 was increased in the masseter muscle.

Thus, cannabinoid receptors played a protector role in OMP caused by ES, indicating that cannabinoid drugs or the modulation of the ECS may represent a promising approach for the treatment of OMP frequently observed in patients with TMD.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42585375

https://www.scielo.br/j/bjmbr/a/DHTkCSCk5bcNGJrbWcb67Jz/?lang=en


Cannabidiol-induced Heme oxygenase-1 contributes to modulate the phenotype of hiPSC-derived cardiac fibroblasts from patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

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“Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe and progressive form of muscular dystrophy caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. We previously observed that loss of dystrophin in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiac fibroblasts (hiPSC-cFib) dysregulated the actin network and induced a metabolic remodeling associated with an exacerbated myofibroblast phenotype.

The endocannabinoid signaling (ECS) system plays an important role in chronic inflammatory and fibrotic conditions and is dysregulated in skeletal muscle of DMD patients. Here, we investigated the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on hiPSC-cFib from healthy controls and DMD patients.

CBD failed to modify metabolic responses in DMD hiPSC-cFib, while significantly promoting glycolysis and cell proliferation in control hiPSC-cFib. Despite these distinct metabolic responses, CBD significantly attenuated TGF-β-induced myofibroblast activation in both DMD and control hiPSC-cFib by lowering α-smooth muscle actin and collagen type I levels suggesting a metabolism-independent mechanism.

Additionally, CBD exerted strong antioxidant effects on both DMD and control hiPSC-cFib, markedly reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, increasing GSH levels and robustly inducing heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner which could not be mimicked by CB1R or CB2R agonists and blocked by their antagonists.

Pharmacological inhibition of HO-1 blunted CBD’s ability to suppress TGF-β-induced activation of DMD and control hiPSC-cFib, demonstrating that HO-1 is a key mediator of CBD’s anti-fibrotic action.

Together, these findings showed stimulation of glycolytic metabolism by CBD, regulation which is lost in DMD hiPSC-cFib. We uncovered a previously unrecognized HO-1-dependent pathway by which CBD dampens profibrotic activation in human DMD and control hiPSC-cFib, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic approach to limit cardiac fibrosis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42579928

“Dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) was observed in both murine and human muscles affected by DMD.”

“Modulation to the endocannabinoid system has shown benefits in locomotor performance of dystrophic mdx making the endocannabinoid system a therapeutical target for treatment of Duchenne patients.”

“Cannabidiol exerted a protective effect against the over-activation of Duchenne hiPSC-derived fibroblasts associated with HO-1 induction, highlighting its therapeutic potential to mitigate cardiac fibrosis associated with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.”

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213231726003320?via%3Dihub


Cholesterol-induced stimulation of platelet aggregation is prevented by a hempseed-enriched diet

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“Hypercholesterolemia indirectly increases the risk for myocardial infarction by enhancing the ability of platelets to aggregate. Diets enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been shown to reduce the detrimental effects of cholesterol on platelet aggregation.

This study investigated whether dietary hempseed, a rich source of PUFAs, inhibits platelet aggregation under normal and hypercholesterolemic conditions.

Male New Zealand white rabbits were fed one of 6 dietary interventions: regular control diet (RG); control diet + 10% hempseed (HP); control diet + 10% partially delipidated hempseed (DHP); control diet + 0.5% cholesterol (OL); control diet + 0.5% cholesterol + 10% hempseed (OLHP); control diet + 5% coconut oil (CO). After 8 weeks, blood was collected to measure ADP- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation and plasma levels of fatty acids, cholesterol, and triglycerides.

The hempseed-fed animals (HP and OLHP) displayed elevated plasma levels of PUFAs and a prominent enhancement in 18:3n-6 (gamma-linolenic acid, GLA) levels, a unique PUFA found in hempseed. The cholesterol-supplemented groups (OL and OLHP) had significantly elevated plasma levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, but platelet aggregation was significantly augmented only in the OL group.

The addition of hempseed to this diet (OLHP) normalized aggregation. The direct addition of GLA to the OL platelet samples blocked the cholesterol-induced stimulation of platelet aggregation.

The results of this study demonstrate that when hempseed is added to a cholesterol-enriched diet, cholesterol-induced platelet aggregation returns to control levels. This normalization is not due to a reduction in plasma cholesterol levels, but may be partly due to increased levels of plasma GLA.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18418423

https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/Y08-011

Cannabis Seed Oil Alleviates Experimental Atherosclerosis by Ameliorating Vascular Inflammation in Apolipoprotein-E-Deficient Mice

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“In recent decades, epidemiological, clinical, and experimental studies have demonstrated that a diet with antioxidant or anti-inflammatory function plays a central role in the prevention of atherosclerosis (AS).

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of Cannabis seed oil (CO) administration on in vitro antioxidant capacity as well as blood lipid profiles, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory response, and endothelial cell integrity. Female ApoE-/- mice were fed a high-cholesterol diet and administrated with CO or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and seal oil by gavage for 8 weeks.

The results show that CO administration reduced the levels of serum triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol at week 6. Additionally, a decrease in serum tumor necrosis factor α and nitric oxide was also observed. Moreover, results from CD31 staining and scanning electron microscopy revealed that CO treatment alleviated the endothelial cell damage and lipid deposition induced by a high-cholesterol diet. The ratio of lesion area to the total aorta area was 19.57% for the CO group, which was lower than the PBS control group (24.67%).

Collectively, CO exerted anti-atherosclerotic effects by modulating serum lipid profiles and inflammatory responses and improving endothelial cell integrity and arterial lipid deposition. The results provide a promising preventive strategy for the early progression of AS.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34037390

https://pubs.acs.org/jafcau/article-abstract/69/32/9102/506931/Cannabis-Seed-Oil-Alleviates-Experimental?redirectedFrom=fulltext

Stability of Cannabinoids in Cannabis: Plant Material, Extracts, Oil Formulations, and Isolates (CBD and Δ9-THC) Under Different Storage Conditions

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“Background: The chemical stability of cannabinoids in Cannabis sativa plant material and formulated products is a critical factor for quality control, therapeutic efficacy, and regulatory compliance. Cannabinoids such as THC are prone to degradation over time, which is heavily influenced by storage conditions and the product matrix. Despite its importance, comprehensive long-term stability data comparing different plant chemovars (high THC, high cannabidiol [CBD], and intermediate) alongside processed products like extracts and isolates remains limited. This study aims to evaluate the stability of cannabinoids in plant material, extracts, oil formulations, and isolates (CBD and Δ9-THC) under distinct environmental temperatures to optimize storage guidelines.

Methods: Cannabis plant material representing three distinct chemovars-high THC, high CBD, and intermediate (balanced THC/CBD), extracts, pure isolates (THC and CBD) and CBD extract as oil formulation were subjected to extended stability testing over a prolonged period under three controlled temperature environments: room temperature, refrigeration, and freezing. Quantitative analysis of cannabinoid content was performed at regular intervals using gas chromatography (GC/FID) to track degradation and potency over time.

Results: The stability profiles varied depending on the cannabinoid profile, temperature, and matrix type. For the majority of cannabis-derived products, exposure to room temperature accelerated the degradation of THC into cannabinol (CBN), whereas storage at -20°C preserved cannabinoid integrity over the extended timeline. Notably, a distinct divergence was observed between the compounds: CBD-only products demonstrated robust long-term stability even when maintained at room temperature. Conversely, THC-rich matrices were highly susceptible to ambient degradation but exhibited the highest stability when formulated as ethanolic solutions and stored in the freezer (-20°C).

Conclusion: To maximize cannabinoid shelf-life and prevent degradation, storage temperatures must match product composition. While CBD-dominant products can tolerate room-temperature storage, THC-rich products require cold chain management, ideally stored in a freezer at -20°C for optimal long-term potency.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42576671

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/25785125261478275

Cannabis-Based Medicinal Products for Endometriosis: A 2-Year Prospective Analysis From the UK Medical Cannabis Registry

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“Background: Endometriosis affects up to 10% of biological females of reproductive age. Current treatment options are limited and often unsuitable for prolonged use. Cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) have emerged as an alternative for pain management.

Aims: To analyse changes in patient-reported outcome measures (PrOMs), prescribed opioid burden, and the prevalence of adverse events (AEs) in patients prescribed CBMPs for endometriosis-associated pain.

Materials and methods: This was an observational analysis of prospectively collected data from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. Biological females (≥ 18 years) with a primary diagnosis of endometriosis, enrolled ≥ 2 years prior to data extraction on 06/01/2025, were included. PrOMs and prescribed oral morphine equivalents (OME) were assessed between baseline and 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Changes from baseline were assessed by repeated-measures ANOVA and Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc pairwise t-tests. p < 0.050 was considered statistically significant.

Results: One hundred and one patients were included. Improvements from baseline were observed in BPI Severity, BPI Interference, SF-MPQ-2 Total, Pain VAS, EQ-5D-5L Index, GAD-7, and SQS at all follow-ups (p < 0.001). Mean prescribed OME decreased from 19.9 ± 17.2 mg/day at baseline to 14.8 ± 15.9 mg/day at 24 months. Eighteen participants (17.8%) reported 165 AEs, of which 84 (50.9%) were mild. The most frequent were fatigue (n = 16; 15.8%), lethargy (n = 15; 14.9%), and headache (n = 13; 12.9%).

Conclusion: CBMP treatment was associated with sustained improvements in pain, health-related quality of life, sleep, and anxiety at 24 months, with a favourable AE profile. Randomised controlled trials are required to establish efficacy and safety.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42576801

“Cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) have emerged as an alternative for managing endometriosis-associated chronic pain.

CBMPs include phytocannabinoids such as cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which interact with the endocannabinoid system through cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) and type 2 (CB2).

Anandamide, an endogenous cannabinoid, binds to these receptors to modulate pain. THC is a partial agonist of CB1 and CB2, while CBD increases anandamide by inhibiting its breakdown.”

https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ajo.70173

Cannabidiol attenuates atherosclerosis in male ApoE-/- mice with sex-dependent lipidomic and proteomic remodeling

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“Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid from Cannabis sativa, exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

We therefore hypothesized that CBD may modulate atherosclerosis development; however, preclinical evidence remains limited and sex-specific effects are poorly understood.

Male and female apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE–/–) mice were fed a Western-type diet for 12 weeks and received either a CBD nanoemulsion (≈80 mg/kg/day) or vehicle via drinking water. Atherosclerosis was quantified by aortic plaque area, and lipidomic profiling together with aortic root proteomics were used to characterize CBD-induced metabolic changes.

CBD treatment significantly reduced aortic plaque area in male but not female mice, without affecting body weight or standard serum lipid parameters.

Untargeted lipidomics revealed sex-specific remodeling of the serum lipidome in males, including enrichment of ether-linked triacylglycerols, a class connected to ether-lipid metabolism; however, no lipid class emerged as a robust correlate of plaque burden. Proteomic analysis identified male-specific downregulation of mitochondrial oxidative and stress-related pathways, consistent with reduced vascular oxidative burden.

In vitro, CBD attenuated oxLDL-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory activation in endothelial cells, supporting a direct vascular effect. CBD elicited no comparable molecular or plaque changes in females.

Collectively, chronic CBD administration exerts a sex-dependent, anti-atherogenic effect in male ApoE-/- mice, associated with downregulation of mitochondrial oxidative metabolism and attenuation of endothelial oxidative and inflammatory activation, alongside remodeling of ether-linked lipid metabolism whose contribution to plaque protection remains to be established.

These findings highlight the importance of incorporating sex-specific responses in future mechanistic and translational studies of CBD in atherosclerosis.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42575282

“Cannabinoids are bioactive compounds structurally related to metabolites of dietary essential polyunsaturated fatty acids, collectively termed endocannabinoids. They bind, with variable affinity, to a broad spectrum of endocannabinoid receptors, that contributes to their pleiotropic and sometimes contradictory biological effects.

Cannabinoids are also important modulators of immune function.

Given the central role of inflammation in atherogenesis, modulation of the endocannabinoid system has therefore been proposed as a potential strategy for atherosclerosis prevention and therapy.”

https://www.jlr.org/article/S0022-2275(26)00150-1/fulltext


Cannabidiol as a Promising Anti-Inflammatory Agent Targeting TYK2: Molecular Docking and Dynamic Simulation Approaches for Therapeutic Applications in Multiple Sclerosis

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“Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) involves chronic inflammation driven by dysregulation of the JAK-STAT pathway. This study aimed to evaluate the potential interaction of natural cannabinoids with TYK2, with a focus on cannabidiol (CBD), using computational in silico approaches.

Methods: A combined molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) workflow was used. Cannabinoid ligands and the TYK2 structure (JH2 domain) were prepared and docked in MOE, followed by 20 ns MD simulations under NVT and NPT conditions in GROMACS. Complex stability and ligand-protein interactions were analysed.

Results: CBD showed a competitive docking score (-7.31 kcal/mol) and a refined RMSD of 0.9198 Å. MD simulations revealed a stable CBD-TYK2 complex, with RMSD fluctuations of 0.15-0.20 nm, which were lower than those observed for the reference inhibitor, deucravacitinib. RMSF analysis revealed a slight increase in local flexibility in specific regions without affecting the overall stability of the protein. The radius of gyration remained stable throughout the simulation, indicating that the protein’s compactness was preserved. Hydrogen bond analysis showed fewer but transient interactions for CBD, consistent with a binding mode dominated by hydrophobic interactions.

Discussion: These computational results suggest that CBD interacts stably with TYK2 through a distinct binding mode compared to the reference inhibitor, deucravacitinib, while maintaining the structural integrity of the protein.

Conclusion: CBD showed a stable predicted interaction with TYK2, supporting its potential as a candidate for further in vitro and in vivo studies in the context of MS-related inflammation.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42576587

https://www.eurekaselect.com/article/157501