Tag Archives: cannabinoid

The Hypocretin/Orexin Receptor-1 as a Novel Target to Modulate Cannabinoid Reward.

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“Although there is a high prevalence of users who seek treatment for cannabis dependence, no accepted pharmacologic treatment is available to facilitate and maintain abstinence.

 The hypocretin/orexin system plays a critical role in drug addiction, but the potential participation of this system in the addictive properties of cannabinoids is unknown.

 We investigated…  studies were performed to evaluate dopamine extracellular levels in the nucleus accumbens after acute Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol administration..

… role of Hcrtr-1 in the reinforcing and motivational properties of WIN55,212-2 (THC) was confirmed…

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings demonstrate that Hcrtr-1 modulates the reinforcing properties of cannabinoids, which could have a clear therapeutic interest.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23896204

Marijuana cannabinoids found to help combat autism

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cannabinoids

“(NaturalNews) The cannabinoid compounds naturally found in many varieties of cannabis, also known more commonly as marijuana, may help children with autism spectrum disorders experience dramatic behavioral improvements, and potentially even full recovery from their symptoms. These are the findings of a new study published in the journal Nature Communications that help reinforce the growing body of evidence which shows that medicinal cannabinoids hold incredible potential in both treating and potentially curing chronic illness…
 

Can non-psychoactive cannabinoid compounds actually cure chronic illness?

Though the researchers were quick to deny that cannabinoids hold any potential at actually curing autism, which more than likely was a politically-motivated denial rather than a factual admission, other research and actual case studies suggest that cannabinoid compounds are, indeed, powerful enough to mitigate many or all of the symptoms associated with autism, as well as many other diseases.”

 

Study Finds Cannabis May Provide Treatment For Autism

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“A new study out of Standford University has found promising signs to suggest that cannabinoids – compounds found in cannabis, as well as naturally produced in our body – may help to treat autism.

According to Autism Daily Newscast (ADN); ”A new study shows that mutations associated with autism block the action of brain molecules that act on the same receptors that marijuana’s active chemical acts on”.

They continue: “Thomas Sudhof, a cellular physiologist at Stanford University, tested mutations associated with autism in mice. Two mutations associated with autism in a synapse-adhesion protein led to deficits in prolonged endocannabinoid signaling in mice. This suggests that autism could caused by a disruption of the brain’s ability to send clear signals”.

These findings suggest that cannabinoids could be used as a treatment to autism as they can unblock a disruption in the body’s cannabinoid receptors…”

More: http://www.theweedblog.com/study-finds-cannabis-may-provide-treatment-for-autism/

Medicinal Cannabis Does Not Influence the Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Irinotecan and Docetaxel

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“For the past 4,000 years, patients and doctors of each era have resorted to cannabis when conventional treatments were ineffective or lacking. Indeed, in oncology beneficial effects have been reported for cancer-associated anorexia, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and palliation…

The only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medicinal cannabis products are an oral formulation containing dronabinol (Marinol®)… the synthetic version of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main pharmacologically active cannabinoid, and capsules containing nabilone, an analog of dronabinol (Cesamet®)…

…many patients claim (subjectively) that a whole or partially purified extract of Cannabis sativa L. offers advantages over a single isolated ingredient…

We anticipated an increased use of medicinal cannabis concurrent with anticancer drugs, and undertook a drug-interaction study to evaluate the effect of concomitant medicinal cannabis on the pharmacokinetics of irinotecan and docetaxel…

Conclusion. Coadministration of medicinal cannabis, as herbal tea, in cancer patients treated with irinotecan or docetaxel does not significantly influence the plasma pharmacokinetics of these drugs. The evaluated variety of medicinal cannabis can be administered concomitantly with both anticancer agents without dose adjustments.”

Full text: http://theoncologist.alphamedpress.org/content/12/3/291.long

Role of the cannabinoid system in the transit of beta-amyloid across the blood–brain barrier

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“Emerging evidence suggests beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brain is the result of impaired clearance, due in part to diminished Aβ transport across the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Recently, modulation of the cannabinoid system was shown to reduce Aβ brain levels and improve cognitive behavior in AD animal models…

 The purpose of the current studies was to investigate the role of the cannabinoid system in the clearance of Aβ across the BBB.

  The current studies demonstrate, for the first time, a role for the cannabinoid system in the transit of Aβ across the BBB.

These findings provide insight into the mechanism by which cannabinoid treatment reduces Aβ burden in the AD brain and offer additional evidence on the utility of this pathway as a treatment for AD.”

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S104474311300064X

Marijuana May Be Legitimate Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease, Report Says

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“Researchers at the Roskamp Institute in Florida recently published a study in the journal Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience revealing that cannabinoids could delay the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, and could quite plausibly terminate the disease entirely.”

medical marijuana alzheimers Marijuana May Be Legitimate Treatment for Alzheimers Disease, Report Says

“Corbin Bachmeier, Ph.D, lead researcher of the study, declared that Alzheimer’s disease is “the result of impaired Aβ [Amyloid-β protein] clearance from the brain”. According to this particular study, cannabinoids can resolve this problem, which makes it a prospective treatment.

Bachmeier’s examination determined that “modulation of the cannabinoid system was shown to reduce Aβ [Amyloid-β protein] brain levels and improve cognitive behavior in Alzheimer’s disease animal models.”

The study’s abstract states that the objective of the study was to “investigate the role of the cannabinoid system in the clearance of Aβ across the blood–brain barrier (BBB).”

For the first time in recorded history, the study in question establishes that the cannabinoid system does indeed play a role in the transit of Amyloid-β protein across the blood-brain barrier.

Bachmeier concluded that his discoveries “provide insight into the mechanism by which cannabinoid treatment reduces Aβ [Amyloid-β protein] burden in the AD [Alzheimer’s disease] brain and offer additional evidence on the utility of this pathway as a treatment for AD.”

This is good news for individuals suffering with this specific ailment and for their loved ones. Cannabinoids seem to be boundless in respect to the medicinal benefits they have to offer.”

http://ivn.us/2013/07/24/marijuana-may-be-legitimate-treatment-for-alzheimers-disease-report-says/

Marijuana may block Alzheimer’s

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“The active ingredient in marijuana may stall decline from Alzheimer’s disease, research suggests.” 

Brain

 

“Scientists showed a synthetic version of the compound may reduce inflammation associated with Alzheimer’s and thus help to prevent mental decline.

They hope the cannabinoid may be used to develop new drug therapies.”

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4286435.stm

Cannabis based spray approved for MS

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“Sativex licensed for spasticity in multiple sclerosis. MS charity calls it a ‘milestone’
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sad woman
 
“The cannabis-based mouth spray, Sativex, has been approved by the UK medicines regulator, MHRA, as a prescription only treatment for MS related spasticity.

Sativex is designed as an add-on treatment for moderate to severe MS spasms and cramping in people who receive inadequate relief from the standard oral anti-spasticity medicines or have experienced unbearable side effects whilst taking these medicines.

Sativex contains two cannabinoids or active ingredients – THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).  It is the first cannabinoid medicine derived from whole plant extracts from the cannabis sativa plant…”

More: http://www.webmd.boots.com/news/20100621/cannabis-based-spray-approved-for-ms

Therapeutic Utility of Cannabinoid Receptor Type 2 (CB2) Selective Agonists.

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“The cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2), is a class A GPCR that was cloned in 1993 while looking for an alternate receptor that could explain the pharmacological properties of 9- tetrahydrocannabinol. CB2 was identified among cDNAs based on its similarity in amino-acid sequence to the CB1 receptor and helped provide an explanation for the established effects of cannabinoids on the immune system.

In addition to the immune system, CB2 has widespread tissue expression and has been found in brain, PNS and GI tract. Several “mixed” cannabinoid agonists are currently in clinical use primarily for controlling pain and it is believed that selective CB2 agonism may afford a superior analgesic agent devoid of the centrally mediated CB1 effects.

Thus, selective CB2 receptor agonists represent high value putative therapeutics for treating pain and other disease states. In this perspective, we seek to provide a concise update of progress in the field.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23865723

Cannabis and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for weight loss?

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“Obesity is one of the highest preventable causes of morbidity and mortality in the developed world. It has been well known for a long time that exposure to cannabis produces an increase of appetite (a phenomenon referred to as the ‘munchies’). This phenomenon led to an exploration of the role of the endocannabinoid system in the regulation of obesity and associated metabolic syndrome.

This effort subsequently led to the development of a successful therapeutic approach for obesity that consisted of blocking the cannabinoid CB1 receptors using ligands such as Rimonabant in order to produce weight loss and improve metabolic profile. Despite being efficacious, Rimonabant was associated with increased rates of depression and anxiety and therefore removed from the market.

We recently discovered that the prevalence of obesity is paradoxically much lower in cannabis users as compared to non-users and that this difference is not accounted for by tobacco smoking status and is still present after adjusting for variables such as sex and age.

Here, we propose that this effect is directly related to exposure to the Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) present in cannabis smoke.

We therefore propose the seemingly paradoxical hypothesis that THC or a THC/cannabidiol combination drug may produce weight loss and may be a useful therapeutic for the treatment of obesity and its complications.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23410498