Evaluating the Association of Cannabis Use and Longitudinal Kidney Outcomes

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“Background: Cannabis is the most used federally controlled substance in the United States. Given the increasingly widespread use of cannabis, further examination of its health implications is needed. We evaluated the association of cannabis use and longitudinal kidney outcomes among a cohort of adults living in Baltimore, MD. 

Methods: We used data from healthy aging in neighborhoods of diversity across the life span study. Baseline cannabis use (obtained between 2004 and 2009) was categorized as never tried, tried, never used regularly (irregular use), regular use >6 months prior (former regular use), and regular use within the past 6 months (current regular use). The primary outcome was incident chronic kidney disease (CKD), defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 at follow-up (2013-2017). Risk of rapid kidney function decline (decline in eGFR of >3 mL/min per 1.73 m2 per year) and incident albuminuria (albumin-to-creatinine ratio [ACR] ≥ 30 mg/g) were also assessed. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of cannabis use with kidney outcomes. 

Results: Among 1,521 participants, the mean age was 48 years, 58% were female, and 58% were of Black race. Participants with current regular cannabis use were more likely to be younger, male, Black, and to concurrently use cigarettes, opiates, and/or cocaine.

Compared with those with no history of cannabis use, participants with current regular cannabis use were not at higher risk of incident CKD (OR: 0.79 [95% CI: 0.37-1.68]), rapid kidney function decline (OR: 0.80 [95% CI: 0.43-1.49), or incident albuminuria (OR: 0.84 [95% CI: 0.38-1.87]) after adjustment for sociodemographics, health factors, and concurrent use of cigarette, opiate, or cocaine. 

Conclusion: In this Baltimore-based cohort of adults without CKD, there was no independent association between cannabis use and adverse kidney outcomes over time.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40735771/

Process Development for GMP-Grade Full Extract Cannabis Oil: Towards Standardized Medicinal Use

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“Background/Objectives: The industrial extraction and purification processes of Cannabis sativa L. compounds are critical steps in creating formulations with reliable and reproducible therapeutic and sensorial attributes. 

Methods: For this study, standardized preparations of chemotype I were chemically analyzed, and the sensory attributes were studied to characterize the extraction and purification processes, ensuring the maximum retention of cannabinoids and minimization of other secondary metabolites. The industrial process used deep-cooled ethanol for selective extraction. 

Results: Taking into consideration that decarboxylation occurs in the process, the cannabinoid profile composition was preserved from the herbal substance to the herbal preparations, with wiped-film distillation under deep vacuum conditions below 0.2 mbar, as a final purification step. The profiles of the terpenes and cannabinoids in crude and purified Full-spectrum Extract Cannabis Oil (FECO) were analyzed at different stages to evaluate compositional changes that occurred throughout processing. Subjective intensity and acceptance ratings were received for taste, color, overall appearance, smell, and mouthfeel of FECO preparations. 

Conclusions: According to sensory analysis, purified FECO was more accepted than crude FECO, which had a stronger and more polarizing taste, and received higher ratings for color and overall acceptance. In contrast, a full cannabis extract in the market resulted in lower acceptance due to taste imbalance. The purification process effectively removed non-cannabinoids, improving sensory quality while maintaining therapeutic potency. Terpene markers of the flower were remarkably preserved in SOMAÍ’s preparations’ fingerprint, highlighting a major qualitative profile reproducibility and the opportunity for their previous separation and/or controlled reintroduction. The study underscores the importance of monitoring the extraction and purification processes to optimize the cannabinoid content and sensory characteristics in cannabis preparations.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40733057/

“This study highlights the effectiveness of SOMAÍ’s extraction and purification processes in optimizing the sensory and therapeutic quality of full-spectrum medicinal cannabis extracts for herbal preparations. The method employed was explicitly tailored to collect cannabinoid fractions from the natural cannabis flower oils. The resulting purified full-spectrum extract is selectively concentrated in the profiled beneficial compounds naturally found within the flower, successfully removing compounds lacking scientifically proven therapeutic value. While these unwanted compounds will have an impact on the final taste of the decarboxylated full-spectrum oil, herbal medicines created from unpurified full cannabis extract oil will, therefore, have a range of tastes, such as earthy, bitter, and grassy, all of which are strong and generally regarded as unpleasant for therapeutic adherence. The process developed herein is to obtain a standardized THC-dominant crude extract. The same process is applied to CBD-dominant crude extract. With these two extracts, the pharmaceutical company can prepare medicines with a precise and previously defined ratio between the two main bioactive components, an objective not achievable if depending exclusively on the present ratio in the herbal substance.”

https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/7/848

A Stroll Through Saffron Fields, Cannabis Leaves, and Cherry Reveals the Path to Waste-Derived Antimicrobial Bioproducts

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“Background: The accumulation of agri-food waste is a major environmental and economic challenge and converting these by-products into bioactive compounds fits within the circular bioeconomy. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of extracts derived from Cannabis sativa L. leaves (CSE), Crocus sativus tepals (CST), and Prunus avium L. cherry waste (VCE) against four key bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). 

Methods: Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays were performed to assess antibacterial activity, while a bioinformatic pipeline was implemented to explore possible molecular targets. Full-proteome multiple sequence alignments across the bacterial strains were used to identify conserved, strain-specific proteins, and molecular docking simulations were applied to predict binding interactions between the most abundant compounds in the extracts and their targets. 

Results: CSE and CST demonstrated bacteriostatic activity against S. aureus and B. subtilis (MIC = 15.6 mg/mL), while VCE showed selective activity against B. subtilis (MIC = 31.5 mg/mL). CodY was identified as a putative molecular target for CSE and CST, and ChaA for VCE. Docking results supported the possibility of spontaneous binding between abundant extract constituents and the predicted targets, with high binding affinities triggering a strong interaction network with target sensing residues. 

Conclusions: This study demonstrates the antimicrobial activity of these agri-food wastes and introduces a comprehensive in vitro and in silico workflow to support the bioactivity of these agri-food wastes and repurpose them for innovative, eco-sustainable applications in the biotechnology field and beyond.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40732292/

“Given the observed antimicrobial activity against foodborne and surface-associated pathogens, the findings suggest that these extracts may hold promise for use in natural food preservation or environmental hygiene applications.The approach and the evidence adopted here and provided in this study could be useful for future for more eco-friendly and cost-effective strategies to develop waste-derived bioproducts for different purposes.”

https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/7/1003


Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Cannabinoids in Therapy of Neurodegenerative Disorders and Inflammatory Diseases of the CNS

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“Many neurodegenerative diseases are associated with immune system disorders, while neurodegenerative processes often occur in inflammatory conditions of the Central Nervous System (CNS).

Cannabinoids exhibit significant therapeutic potential due to their dual ability to modulate both neural and immune functions. These compounds have a broad spectrum of action, allowing them to target multiple pathological mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative and inflammatory CNS diseases.

The present review outlines the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids, with a focus on their anti-inflammatory properties, in the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Huntington’s disease, as well as inflammatory CNS disorders like multiple sclerosis and HIV-associated dementia.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40724820/

“Cannabinoids, the active compounds derived from Cannabis sativa, are attracting increasing interest for their therapeutic potential in neurodegenerative disorders (Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and Huntington’s disease) and inflammatory CNS conditions (multiple sclerosis and HIV-associated dementia).

Their multimodal mechanisms of action include the following: (1) modulating pathological protein aggregation and mitochondrial dysfunction, and (2) exerting neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects which are mediated through microglial regulation.

The neurodegenerative diseases and inflammatory CNS disorders discussed in this work represent a serious challenge for healthcare systems due to their complex etiology or pathophysiology, severe symptoms, and the limited effectiveness of existing treatments. Consequently, improving therapeutic strategies for these disorders remains a priority.

Many studies suggest that pharmacological modulation of the endocannabinoid system could influence neurodegenerative processes, providing a basis for further research into cannabinoid-based therapies. In particular, the inhibition of FAAH in the endocannabinoid system has emerged as a potential therapeutic approach to control neuroinflammatory processes.”

https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/14/6570

Targeting Vascular and Inflammatory Crosstalk: Cannabigerol as a Dual-Pathway Modulator in Rosacea

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“Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by persistent erythema and abnormal vascular response. Although current treatments focus on symptomatic relief, they often provide only temporary improvement and may be associated with side effects or recurrence.

Cannabigerol (CBG), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, has recently garnered attention for its pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, and skin barrier-supportive effects. However, its role in modulating pathological responses in rosacea remains unclear.

In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of topically applied CBG in an LL-37-induced rosacea-like mouse model.

Clinical and histological assessments revealed that CBG markedly reduced erythema, epidermal hyperplasia, and mast cell infiltration. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) showed downregulation of Il1b, Il4, Il6, Il13, Il22, Il31, Tlr2, Vegfa, and Mmp9. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analyses further demonstrated suppression of CD31, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and Yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), along with reduced activation of the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway, including decreased levels of JAK1, STAT3, and phosphorylated STAT3.

These findings suggest that topical CBG alleviates rosacea-like skin inflammation by targeting inflammatory and vascular pathways, including JAK/STAT and YAP/TAZ signaling.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40725084/

“In conclusion, our study demonstrated the therapeutic potential of CBG in an LL-37-induced mouse model of rosacea. Topical CBG treatment significantly reduced clinical erythema, epidermal hyperplasia, and mast cell infiltration, and suppressed key inflammatory and vascular mediators at both the mRNA and protein levels. Mechanistically, CBG inhibited the expression of cytokines, Vegfa, and Tlr2, as well as the activation of YAP/TAZ and JAK/STAT signaling pathways, which are known to be involved in rosacea pathogenesis.

These findings highlight CBG as a promising non-psychoactive cannabinoid with therapeutic relevance for the treatment of rosacea.”

https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/14/6840

Trans-Cannabitriol as a Dual Inhibition of MPOX Adhesion Receptors L1R and E8L: An In Silico Perspective

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“The re-emergence of monkeypox virus (MPXV) as a global public health concern highlights the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies targeting viral proteins essential for infection.

This study investigates the inhibitory potential of Trans-Cannabitriol (trans-CBT), a minor cannabinoid, against MPXV proteins L1R, H3L, and E8L using an integrative in silico framework.

Homology modeling was employed to generate 3D structures of these proteins, followed by molecular docking and 1 µs molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The trans-CBT demonstrated strong binding affinities for L1R (-10.76 kcal/mol) and E8L (-8.531 kcal/mol), with weaker interactions observed for H3L (-5.739 kcal/mol).

Four MD simulations of 1 µs revealed that trans-CBT stabilizes L1R by reducing its flexibility and solvent exposure, potentially inhibiting viral entry into host cells. In contrast, trans-CBT increased the flexibility and conformational changes of E8L, possibly impairing its function in viral attachment and pathogenesis. ADMET and target prediction analyses further supported its drug-likeness and safety, with the absence of strong CB1/CB2 binding suggesting that trans-CBT may exert its antiviral effects independently of classical cannabinoid pathways.

These findings provide insights into the diverse mechanisms of action of trans-CBT on MPXV proteins and underscore its potential as a broad-spectrum antiviral agent. While promising, further experimental validation and optimization are necessary to assess the real-world applicability of trans-CBT in combating MPXV infections.

This work contributes to the expanding field of cannabinoid-derived antivirals and highlights the importance of exploring under-investigated phytochemicals for therapeutic applications.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40718062/

“The trans-CBT shows promise as an antiviral agent targeting MPXV proteins L1R and E8L. Molecular docking identified trans-CBT as the best-binding ligand for these proteins, with MD simulations revealing distinct effects: it stabilizes L1R by reducing flexibility and solvent exposure, potentially inhibiting viral entry, while it increases E8L’s flexibility and disrupts its conformation, possibly impairing its function.”

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/11779322251355315

Dietary Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Products Enhance Egg Yolk Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Color Without Compromising Laying-Hen Performance: A Meta-Analysis

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“Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) products have gained attention in poultry nutrition for their rich content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), bioactive compounds, and potential functional benefits. However, findings on their impact on laying-hen performance, egg quality, and yolk fatty acid profiles have been inconsistent.

This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary hemp products on laying-hen performance, egg quality traits, and yolk fatty acid composition, while exploring potential sources of heterogeneity across studies.

A comprehensive literature search identified 21 studies that met the inclusion criteria. A random-effects model was used to calculate standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for various outcomes, including production performance, egg quality, and yolk fatty acid profiles. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses assessed the influence of factors such as inclusion level, hen age, and hemp product type.

The results showed that hemp supplementation had no significant effect on hen-day production, egg mass, feed conversion ratio, or feed intake. However, yolk redness (SMD = 4.40; 95% CI: 2.46, 6.33; p < 0.001) and yellowness (SMD = 4.45; 95% CI: 2.75, 6.16; p < 0.001) were significantly enhanced. Hemp feeding also increased n-3 PUFA levels in egg yolk, including C18:3n3, C20:5n3, and C22:6n3, while reducing saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Subgroup analysis indicated that inclusion levels > 10% and hen age ≤ 25 weeks were associated with slight reductions in hen-day production, whereas older hens (>25 weeks) showed increased egg weight.

In conclusion, hemp products can enrich yolk pigmentation and n-3 PUFA content in eggs, supporting the production of functional, value-added eggs without compromising the laying-hen performance.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40723525/

“This meta-analysis underscores the potential of hemp-derived products as functional feed ingredients in laying-hen nutrition. Supplementation with hempseed, hempseed cake, or hempseed oil was found to significantly enhance yolk pigmentation and enrich long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA, without adversely affecting key performance metrics such as hen-day egg production, egg mass, or feed conversion ratio when inclusion levels are appropriately managed. Subgroup analyses revealed that inclusion levels above 10% and use in younger hens (≤25 weeks) may negatively impact productivity, whereas older hens exhibited improved egg weight. Among the different hemp product types, hemp oil demonstrated the most pronounced benefits for yolk coloration and fatty acid enrichment.”

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/14/2062

Cannabis Use for Chronic Pain in Sickle Cell Disease: A Scoping Review

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“Purpose: The purposes of this scoping review were to: (1) systematically evaluate the literature on the types and effectiveness of cannabis and cannabinoids for pain management in adults with sickle cell disease (SCD), (2) assess the effect of cannabis and cannabinoids on pain outcomes, and (3) identify research gaps.

Design: Systematic scoping review.

Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, relevant studies were identified across PubMed, CINAHL, and Cannakeys databases. Inclusion criteria were studies involving medical and recreational cannabis use in adult SCD patients addressing pain management. Exclusion criteria included studies on pediatric populations, non-English publications, or case reports.

Results: Of 369 articles, 12 met inclusion criteria (one clinical trial, two reviews, seven observational, one mixed-methods, and one qualitative study), revealing mixed but generally positive evidence on cannabinoid effectiveness. While some studies indicated reduced pain scores with inhaled cannabis, results varied for other pain outcomes, such as hospitalizations for vaso-occlusive crises, and raised safety concerns, particularly with synthetic cannabinoids.

Conclusions: Cannabinoids may help manage SCD pain, though evidence remains mixed. No studies showed exacerbation of SCD symptoms, but safety concerns warrant careful use.

Clinical implications: The variability in outcomes underscores the need for personalized cannabis-based treatment plans and further research on standardized dosing and long-term safety.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40713408/

https://www.painmanagementnursing.org/article/S1524-9042(25)00201-2/abstract

Dietary cannabidiol oil mitigates metabolic dysfunction in mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity

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“Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a widespread health concern driven largely by lifestyle behaviors such as dietary choices and physical inactivity. Excessive caloric intake promotes adiposity and dysregulation of metabolic signaling in adipose tissue.

This study employed a mouse model of diet-induced obesity to evaluate the ability of cannabidiol (CBD), a cannabis-derived phytochemical, to mitigate metabolic dysfunction. Five-week-old mice received a standard diet or a high-fat diet (HF) with or without CBD (25 mg/kg bw) for 9 weeks.

CBD supplementation reduced weight gain and lowered serum glucose concentration in HF mice. These improvements were accompanied by reduced white adipose tissue mass and smaller adipocyte size. Additionally, CBD treatment recovered protein levels of key metabolic regulators, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1 alpha and Sirtuin 1, in both inguinal and epididymal adipose tissues.

Consistently, CBD supplementation upregulated the mRNA expression of Prdm16 and promoted uncoupling protein 1 at both mRNA and protein levels, showing the browning of adipose tissues. Upstream, CBD supplementation increased transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) in HF mice at both the mRNA and protein levels, which possibly helped orchestrate the observed improvements.

In summary, dietary CBD mitigates weight gain and improves the metabolic health of HF-challenged mice, potentially through the promotion of white adipose tissue browning.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40712842/

“Dietary cannabidiol mitigates body and adipose weight gain in obesity mice.”

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955286325002037?via%3Dihub

Cannabidiol Extracted from Cannabis sativa L. Plant Shows Neuroprotective Impacts Against 6-HODA-Induced Neurotoxicity via Nrf2 Signal Transduction Pathway

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“Background: As a prevalent neurodegenerative illness, Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with serious disability and reduced quality of patients’ lives. Therefore, finding new adjuvant treatment approaches that can improve patients’ quality of life is crucial.

Objectives: This study evaluated the impacts of cannabidiol (CBD) on the PC12 cell line and elucidated its mechanism of action, emphasizing the antioxidant pathway.

Methods: First, CBD was extracted from the hemp plant. Then, the cells were treated with CBD at different dosages. After treatment, the cells were exposed to 6-HODA, and cell viability and apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, total antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxidation, super oxide dismutase (SOD) and GSH levels, as well as the Nrf2, Bax, Bcl-2, and Casp3 genes’ expressions were measured.

Results: Cannabidiol augmented the cell viability and decreased the apoptosis rates of 6-HODA-exposed PC12 cells. Also, pretreatment of PC12 cells with CBD was associated with decreases in ROS and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, and an improvement in total antioxidant capacity and SOD and GSH activities were also seen. In addition, CBD overexpressed Nrf2 and Bcl-2 genes in 6-HODA-exposed PC12 cells and, on the other hand, prevented the upregulation of Bax and Casp3.

Conclusions: Overall, it was concluded that CBD has neuroprotective impacts against 6-HODA-induced neurotoxicity via the Nrf2 signal transduction pathway.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40718446/

“In general, it was concluded that CBD has neuroprotective impacts against 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity due to its antioxidant properties that mediate via the Nrf2 signaling pathway.”

https://brieflands.com/articles/ijpr-160499