Cannabis ‘Can Reduce Tumour Growth’, Expert Says

Posted on December 15, 2015 by David

“He believes chemicals in cannabis could be anti-cancer agents”

Cannabis

“Marijuana is now used by cancer patients in some countries to ease the pain of their illness – but it might actually offer a cure.Guillermo Velasco of the Complutense University of Madrid says there is evidence that cannabinoids – chemicals in cannabis – actually reduced tumour growth in animals.But he says that there is little interest from pharmaceutical companies.

Velasco told Upworthy,, ‘One of the reasons why [it] is so complicated to promote clinical studies is that the active components of marijuana are natural products that cannot be patented and therefore there are few pharma companies interested in their clinical development.’

Earlier this year, the U.S. government admitted that the drug can shrink cancer cells in rodent studies.

In a page of official government advice, the U.S. government now says,, ‘Cannabis has been shown to kill cancer cells in the laboratory.’

The site says that the effect has so far been seen in rodent studies, and cautions, ‘At this time, there is not enough evidence to recommend that patients inhale or ingest Cannabis as a treatment for cancer-related symptoms or side effects of cancer therapy.’’” https://uk.news.yahoo.com/cannabis–can-reduce-tumour-growth—expert-says-120408138.html#pQEf8NO

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/cancer/

Medical Marijuana.

Posted on December 10, 2015 by David

“The use of medicinal marijuana is increasing. Marijuana has been shown to have therapeutic effects in certain patients, but further research is needed regarding the safety and efficacy of marijuana as a medical treatment for various conditions. A growing body of research validates the use of marijuana for a variety of healthcare problems, but there are many issues surrounding the use of this substance. This article discusses the use of medical marijuana and provides implications for home care clinicians.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26645838

The Use of Medicinal Marijuana for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Review of the Current Literature.

Posted on December 10, 2015 by David

“This study seeks to understand the current literature regarding the use of medicinal marijuana in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Analysis revealed that most reports are correlational and observational in basis with a notable lack of randomized, controlled studies.

Many of the published studies suggest a decrease in PTSD symptoms with marijuana use… there is a growing amount of neurobiological evidence and animal studies suggesting potential neurologically based reasons for the reported efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS:

Posttraumatic stress disorder is 1 of the approved conditions for medicinal marijuana in some states. While the literature to date is suggestive of a potential decrease in PTSD symptomatology with the use of medicinal marijuana, there is a notable lack of large-scale trials, making any final conclusions difficult to confirm at this time.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26644963

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/

Endocannabinoid Mechanisms Influencing Nausea.

Posted on December 8, 2015 by David

“One of the first recognized medical uses of Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol was treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Although vomiting is well controlled with the currently available non-cannabinoid antiemetics, nausea continues to be a distressing side effect of chemotherapy and other disorders.

Indeed, when nausea becomes conditionally elicited by the cues associated with chemotherapy treatment, known as anticipatory nausea (AN), currently available antiemetics are largely ineffective.

Considerable evidence demonstrates that the endocannabinoid system regulates nausea in humans and other animals.

In this review, we describe recent evidence suggesting that cannabinoids and manipulations that enhance the functioning of the natural endocannabinoid system are promising treatments for both acute nausea and AN.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26638766

Inhibitors of Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase and Monoacylglycerol Lipase: New Targets for Future Antidepressants.

Posted on December 8, 2015 by David

“Cannabis and analogs of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol have been used for therapeutic purposes…

Endogenous cannabinoids have been discovered, and dysregulation of endocannabinoid signaling is implicated in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD).

Recently, endocannabinoid hydrolytic enzymes such as fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) have become new therapeutic targets in the treatment of MDD.

Several FAAH or MAGL inhibitors are reported to have no cannabimimetic side effects and, therefore, are new potential therapeutic options for patients with MDD who are resistant to first-line antidepressants (selective serotonin and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors).

In this review, we focus on the possible relationships between MDD and the endocannabinoid system as well as the inhibitors’ therapeutic potential.

MAGL inhibitors may reduce inflammatory responses through activation of cannabinoid receptor type 2.

In the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, repeated FAAH inhibitor administration may be beneficial for reducing circulating glucocorticoid levels. Both FAAH and MAGL inhibitors may contribute to dopaminergic system regulation. Recently, several new inhibitors have been developed with strong potency and selectivity. FAAH inhibitor, MAGL inhibitor, or dual blocker use would be promising new treatments for MDD. Further pre-clinical studies and clinical trials using these inhibitors are warranted.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26630956

Prevention of Diet-Induced Obesity Effects on Body Weight and Gut Microbiota in Mice Treated Chronically with Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol.

Posted on December 4, 2015 by David

“Acute administration of cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonists, or the ingestion of cannabis, induces short-term hyperphagia. However, the incidence of obesity is lower in frequent cannabis users compared to non-users.

Gut microbiota affects host metabolism and altered microbial profiles are observed in obese states. Gut microbiota modifies adipogenesis through actions on the endocannabinoid system. This study investigated the effect of chronic THC administration on body weight and gut microbiota in diet-induced obese (DIO) and lean mice.

THC reduced weight gain, fat mass gain and energy intake in DIO but not lean mice. DIO-induced changes in select gut microbiota were prevented in mice chronically administered THC.

Chronic THC treatment reduced energy intake and prevented high fat diet-induced increases in body weight and adiposity; effects that were unlikely to be a result of sedation or altered gastrointestinal transit. Changes in gut microbiota potentially contribute to chronic THC-induced actions on body weight in obesity.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26633823

“Prevention of Diet-Induced Obesity Effects on Body Weight and Gut Microbiota in Mice Treated Chronically with Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol… To follow up on our hypothesis that exposure to THC may produce weight loss, in the current study we investigated whether chronic THC inhibits weight gain in lean and diet-induced obese (DIO) mice… We present data showing that chronic administration of the CB1/CB2 receptor partial agonist, THC, prevents weight gain in DIO mice. Furthermore, we show evidence that DIO-mediated modifications in gut microbiota are prevented in chronically THC treated mice… In conclusion, we present data showing the CB1/CB2 receptor partial agonist THC, induces hypophagia and prevents weight gain in obesity and suggest these actions may be mediated in part by modifications of the gut microbiota.” http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0144270

Potentiation of the antitumor activity of adriamycin against osteosarcoma by cannabinoid WIN-55,212-2

Posted on December 3, 2015 by David

“Osteosarcoma is the most frequent primary malignant bone tumor that occurs in children and adolescents. Osteosarcoma is a bone malignancy that predominantly affects children and adolescents, and exhibits high invasion and metastasis rates.

Although adriamycin (ADM) is an effective benchmark agent for the management of osteosarcoma, it also results in harmful side-effects including toxicity and chemoresistance that substantially affect the quality of life of patients. Therefore, novel therapeutic approaches and drugs must be sought for the treatment of osteosarcoma.

Natural products which have potential antitumor activities have become a focus of attention for study in previous years. Cannabinoids, the active components naturally derived from the marijuana plant Cannabis sativa L., have been reported as potential antitumor drugs based on their ability to limit inflammation, cell proliferation and cell survival.

To date, several cannabinoids have been identified and characterized, including Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol, cannabinol (CBN) and anandamide, as well as synthetic cannabinoids, including WIN-55,212-2, JWH-133 and (R)-methanandamide.

In the early 1970s, THC and CBN were shown to inhibit tumor growth in Lewis lung carcinoma. Subsequently, cannabinoids were found to induce apoptosis and inhibit the proliferation of various cancer cells, including those of glioma and lymphoma, and prostate, breast, skin and pancreatic cancer…

In conclusion, the present study indicated that cannabinoid WIN-55,212-2 is antiproliferative, antimetastatic and antiangiogenic against MG-63 cells in vitro, and presented evidence that cannabinoid WIN-55,212-2 may result in synergistic antitumor action in combination with ADM against osteosarcoma.

These findings may offer a novel strategy for the treatment of osteosarcoma.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4580018/

Liver’s cannabinoid receptors could be targeted to combat liver cancer in some patients

Posted on December 1, 2015 by David

“A new study reveals that the liver’s cannabinoid receptors could be targeted to fight liver cancer in some patients; and it offers a way to predict what treatments have the best chance of working.

The body’s own marijuana-like substances, — called endocannabinoids — are known to increase the biosynthesis of fatty acids in the liver by activating cannabinoid type 1 receptors (CB1). CB1 receptors can be found in the brain, lungs, liver and kidney, and they are involved in a number of physiological processes, including mood, appetite, pain sensation and memory.

The study found that the expression of these receptors increased in cancerous liver samples, when compared with cancer-free samples. This suggests that drugs that block CB1 receptors may be effective against HCC.

“Although such drugs were found to cause unwanted psychiatric side effects, non brain-penetrant CB1 receptor antagonists devoid of such side effects — but retaining therapeutic efficacy via peripheral CB1 receptors — are currently being developed,” says study co-author George Kunos, scientific director at the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).”

http://www.news-medical.net/news/20151123/Livers-cannabinoid-receptors-could-be-targeted-to-combat-liver-cancer-in-some-patients.aspx

The endocannabinoid system as a target for the treatment of neuronal damage.

Posted on December 1, 2015 by David

“Cannabinoids have been proposed as clinically promising neuroprotective molecules, based on their capability to normalize glutamate homeostasis, reducing excitotoxicity, to inhibit calcium influx, lowering intracellular levels and the subsequent activation of calcium-dependent destructive pathways, and to reduce the generation of reactive oxygen intermediates or to limit their toxicity, decreasing oxidative injury.

Cannabinoids are also able to decrease local inflammatory events by acting on glial processes that regulate neuronal survival, and to restore blood supply by reducing vasocontriction produced by several endothelium-derived factors.

Treatment of neurodegenerative disorders is a challenge for neuroscientists and neurologists. Unhappily, the efficacy of available medicines is still poor and there is an urgent need for novel neuroprotective agents. Cannabinoids can serve this purpose given their recognized antiexcitotoxic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20230193

Long-Term Data of Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability in a Real Life Setting of THC/CBD Oromucosal Spray-Treated Multiple Sclerosis Patients.

Posted on November 27, 2015 by David

“Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)/cannabidiol (CBD) oromucosal spray was approved as add-on therapy for spasticity in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

We showed our forty-weeks post-marketing experience regarding efficacy and safety of THC/CBD spray in an Italian cohort of 102 MS patients…

In conclusion, treatment with THC/CBD spray appears to be a valid answer to some of the unmet needs in MS patients, such as spasticity and other refractory-to-treatment symptoms. “

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26608223

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/multiple-sclerosis-ms/