“…cannabis has been used to treat epilepsy for centuries… The therapeutic potential of medical marijuana and pure cannabidiol (CBD), an active substance in the cannabis plant, for neurologic conditions is highly debated. A series of articles published in Epilepsia, a journal of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), examine the potential use of medical marijuana and CBD in treating severe forms of epilepsy…”
Monthly Archives: May 2014
Smoking cannabis associated with PTSD symptom reduction in some patients, says study
“Clinical research from New Mexico supports a conclusion that smoking cannabis [marijuana] is associated with PTSD symptom reduction in some patients.”
“PTSD Symptom Reports of Patients Evaluated for the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program” http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02791072.2013.873843#.U39UHBVX-uY
http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/
CB1 cannabinoid receptors are involved in neuroleptic-induced enhancement of brain neurotensin.
“Targeting the neuropeptide systems has been shown to be useful for the development of more effective antipsychotic drugs. Neurotensin, an endogenous neuropeptide, appears to be involved in the mechanism of action of antipsychotics…
Conclusion: The brain neurotensin under the regulatory action of CB1 receptors is involved in the effects of amisulpride and fluphenazine.”
Cannabidiol can improve complex sleep-related behaviours associated with rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder in Parkinson’s disease patients: a case series.
“Cannabidiol (CBD) is the main non-psychotropic component of the Cannabis sativa plant. REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia characterized by the loss of muscle atonia during REM sleep associated with nightmares and active behaviour during dreaming. We have described the effects of CBD in RBD symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
CASES SUMMARY:
Four patients treated with CBD had prompt and substantial reduction in the frequency of RBD-related events without side effects.
WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION:
This case series indicates that CBD is able to control the symptoms of RBD.”
Potential effects of cannabidiol as a wake-promoting agent.
“Over the last decades, the scientific interest in chemistry and pharmacology of cannabinoids has increased. Most attention has focused on ∆(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆(9)-THC) as it is the psychoactive constituent of Cannabis sativa (C. sativa). However, in previous years, the focus of interest in the second plant constituent with non-psychotropic properties, cannabidiol (CBD) has been enhanced. Recently, several groups have investigated the pharmacological properties of CBD with significant findings; furthermore, this compound has raised promising pharmacological properties as a wake-inducing drug. In the current review, we will provide experimental evidence regarding the potential role of CBD as a wake-inducing drug.”
Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol prevents methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity.
“Methamphetamine (METH) is a potent psychostimulant with neurotoxic properties…
Preclinical studies have shown that natural (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, Δ9-THC) and synthetic cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptor agonists exert neuroprotective effects on different models of cerebral damage. Here, we investigated the neuroprotective effect of Δ9-THC on METH-induced neurotoxicity…
Our results indicate that Δ9-THC reduces METH-induced brain damage via inhibition of nNOS expression and astrocyte activation through CB1-dependent and independent mechanisms, respectively.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24844285
Full-text: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4028295/
A restricted population of CB1 cannabinoid receptors with neuroprotective activity.
“The CB1 cannabinoid receptor, the main molecular target of endocannabinoids and cannabis active components, is the most abundant G protein-coupled receptor in the mammalian brain…
The data unequivocally identify the restricted population of CB1 receptors located on glutamatergic terminals as an indispensable player in the neuroprotective activity of (endo)cannabinoids, therefore suggesting that this precise receptor pool constitutes a promising target for neuroprotective therapeutic strategies.”
Peripheral and intra-dorsolateral striatum injections of the cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN 55,212-2 impair consolidation of stimulus-response memory.
“The endocannabinoid system plays a major role in modulating memory. In the present study, we examined whether cannabinoid agonists influence the consolidation of stimulus-response/habit memory, a form of memory dependent upon the dorsolateral striatum (DLS)…
The results indicate that peripheral or intra-DLS administration of a cannabinoid receptor agonist impairs consolidation of DLS-dependent memory. The findings are discussed within the context of previous research encompassing cannabinoids and DLS-dependent learning and memory processes, and the possibility that cannabinoids may be used to treat some habit-like human psychopathologies (e.g. posttraumatic stress disorder) is considered.”
Cannabinoids in pain management: CB1, CB2 and non-classic receptor ligands.
“The available commercial cannabinoids have a narrow therapeutic index. Recently developed peripherally restricted cannabinoids, regionally administered cannabinoids, bifunctional cannabinoid ligands and cannabinoid enzyme inhibitors, endocannabinoids, which do not interact with classic cannabinoid receptors (CB1r and CB2r), cannabinoid receptor antagonists and selective CB1r agonists hold promise as analgesics…
Expert opinion: Regional and peripherally restricted cannabinoids will reduce cannabinomimetic side effects. Spinal cannabinoids may increase the therapeutic index by limiting the dose necessary for response and minimize drugs exposure to supraspinal sites where cannabinomimetic side effects originate. Cannabinoid bifunctional ligands should be further explored. The combination of a CB2r agonist with a transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV-1) antagonist may improve the therapeutic index of the CB2r agonist. Enzyme inhibitors plus TRPV-1 blockers should be further explored. The development of analgesic tolerance with enzyme inhibitors and the pronociceptive effects of prostamides limit the benefits to cannabinoid hydrolyzing enzyme inhibitors.
Most clinically productive development of cannabinoids over the next 5 years will be in the area of selective CB2r agonists. These agents will be tested in various inflammatory, osteoarthritis and neuropathic pains.”
Cannabis Proves Effective In Treating Crohn’s Disease According To New Study
“A new clinical study published in the journal Pharmacology and by the National Institute of Health has found that cannabis is effective in treating Crohn’s disease, which is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)…
The study, entitled: “Cannabis Finds Its Way into Treatment of Crohn’s Disease” is co-authored by Rudolf Schicho, PhD and M. Storr, both of the Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Graz in Graz, Austria.
In the study abstract, Schicho and Storr note that In ancient medicine, cannabis was widely used to treat and cure bowel disturbances and inflammation, and a recent clinical study now shows that the medicinal herb Cannabis sativa lived up to expectations and proved to be highly efficient in cases of inflammatory bowel diseases.”