Category Archives: THC (Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol)

Cannabinoid 2 Receptor Agonist Improves Systemic Sensitivity to Insulin in High-Fat Diet/Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice.

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“The endocannabinoid signalling (ECS) system has been known to regulate glucose homeostasis.

Previous studies have suggested that the cannabinoid 2 (CB2) receptor may play a regulatory role on insulin secretion, immune modulation and insulin resistance.

Given that diabetes and insulin resistance are attributable to elevated inflammatory tone, we investigated the role of CB2 receptor on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in high-fat diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced mice.

Our data suggest a lipolytic role of SER601 in HFD/STZ-induced diabetic mice, which results in significant improvement of systemic insulin sensitivity.

Thus, the CB2 receptor may be considered a promising target for therapeutic development against insulin resistance and obesity-related diabetes.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27960161

Tolerability of dronabinol alone, ondansetron alone and the combination of dronabinol plus ondansetron in delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

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“Dronabinol (Marinol), the synthetic version of tetrahydrocannabinol, is used to treat nausea and vomiting following cancer chemotherapy (CINV).

It has a unique mechanism of action (cannabinoid receptor binding) compared to the more frequently used serotonin receptor antagonists. Tolerability of dronabinol versus ondansetron and the combination of dronabinol plus ondansetron was explored in subjects with delayed CINV.

Dronabinol was well tolerated and resulted in few terminations due to adverse events. The low rate of CNS-related adverse events following D treatment may make it a suitable alternative to serotonin antagonist therapy for delayed CINV.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27946950

Dronabinol treatment of delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV).

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“Dronabinol (MARINOL), synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol, binds to cannabinoid receptors and has antiemetic activity. To explore if this novel mechanism would be of benefit in delayed CINV, dronabinol was added to the prophylactic regimen for acute CINV and continued after chemotherapy.

Efficacy at Endpoint (LOCF) Conclusions: Dronabinol (D) was comparable to ondansetron (O) in total response and but was more effective in reducing nausea intensity and vomiting/retching. Results for the combination of DO were similar to either agent alone.

These results support conducting a larger study since D could become an attractive alternative to serotonin receptor antagonists in treating delayed CINV.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27946578

Compensatory activation of cannabinoid CB2 receptor inhibition of GABA release in the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) in inflammatory pain.

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“The rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) is a relay in the descending pain modulatory system and an important site of endocannabinoid modulation of pain.

These studies demonstrate that endocannabinoid signaling to CB1- and CB2-receptors in adult RVM is altered in persistent inflammation.

The emergence of CB2 receptor function in the RVM provides additional rationale for the development of CB2 receptor-selective agonists as useful therapeutics for chronic inflammatory pain.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27940994

Anti-inflammatory effect of cannabinoid agonist WIN55, 212 on mouse experimental colitis is related to inhibition of p38MAPK.

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“To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect and the possible mechanisms of an agonist of cannabinoid (CB) receptors, WIN55-212-2 (WIN55), in mice with experimental colitis, so as to supply experimental evidence for its clinical use in future.

These results confirmed the anti-inflammatory effect and protective role of WIN55 on the mice with experimental colitis, and revealed that this agent exercises its action at least partially by inhibiting p38MAPK.

Furthermore, the results showed that SB203580, affected the expression of CB1 and CB2 receptors in the mouse colon, suggesting a close linkage and cross-talk between the p38MAPK signaling pathway and the endogenous CB system.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27920472

Plant cannabinoids: a neglected pharmacological treasure trove.

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“Most of the cannabinoids in Cannabis sativa L. have not been fully evaluated for their pharmacological activity.

A publication in this issue presents evidence that a plant cannabinoid, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin is a potent antagonist of anandamide, a major endogenous cannabinoid.

It seems possible that many of the non-psychoactive constituents of this plant will be of biological interest.

I sincerely believe that the plant cannabinoids are a neglected pharmacological treasure trove.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1751232/

What is THC?

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“THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects. It acts much like the cannabinoid chemicals made naturally by the body, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

Cannabinoid receptors are concentrated in certain areas of the brain associated with thinking, memory, pleasure, coordination and time perception. THC attaches to these receptors and activates them and affects a person’s memory, pleasure, movements, thinking, concentration, coordination, and sensory and time perception, according to NIDA.

THC is one of many compounds found in the resin secreted by glands of the marijuana plant. More of these glands are found around the reproductive organs of the plant than on any other area of the plant. Other compounds unique to marijuana, called cannabinoids, are present in this resin.

One cannabinoid, CBD is nonpsychoactive, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, and actually blocks the high associated with THC.”

http://www.livescience.com/24553-what-is-thc.html

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/thc-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol/

Δ9-THC-Caused Synaptic and Memory Impairments Are Mediated through COX-2 Signaling

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“Marijuana has been used for thousands of years as a treatment for medical conditions.

However, untoward side effects limit its medical value. Here, we show that synaptic and cognitive impairments following repeated exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) are associated with the induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), an inducible enzyme that converts arachidonic acid to prostanoids in the brain. COX-2 induction by Δ9-THC is mediated via CB1 receptor-coupled G protein βγ subunits.

Pharmacological or genetic inhibition of COX-2 blocks downregulation and internalization of glutamate receptor subunits and alterations of the dendritic spine density of hippocampal neurons induced by repeated Δ9-THC exposures. Ablation of COX-2 also eliminates Δ9-THC-impaired hippocampal long-term synaptic plasticity, spatial, and fear memories.

Importantly, the beneficial effects of decreasing β-amyloid plaques and neurodegeneration by Δ9-THC in Alzheimer’s disease animals are retained in the presence of COX-2 inhibition.

These results suggest that the applicability of medical marijuana would be broadened by concurrent inhibition of COX-2.”

http://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(13)01360-3

“Cannabidiolic acid as a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory component in cannabis.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18556441

Smoking cannabis ‘helps addicts give up heroin’, study finds

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Smoking cannabis ‘helps addicts give up heroin’, study finds

“Smoking weed helps patients give up opiates such as heroin, a new study has found.

Researchers at Columbia University monitored patients undergoing treatment for opiate addiction – and found that patients who smoked weed were more able to sleep, less anxious, and more likely to complete their course.

 The researchers also found that dosing patients with dronabinol – a drug consisting of the ‘active’ ingredient in cannabis, THC – helped with withdrawal symptoms.”

http://metro.co.uk/2015/12/02/smoking-cannabis-helps-addicts-give-up-heroin-study-finds-5538896/

Cannabis-induced Moto-Cognitive Dysfunction in Wistar Rats: Ameliorative Efficacy of Nigella Sativa.

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“Cannabis is a widely used illicit drug with various threats of personality syndrome, and Nigella sativa has been widely implicated as having therapeutic efficacy in many neurological diseases.

The present study investigates the ameliorative efficacy of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) on cannabis-induced moto-cognitive defects.

CONCLUSIONS:

The observed ameliorative effects of NSO make it a promising agent against moto-cognitive dysfunction and cerebelo-hippocampal alterations induced by cannabis.”

 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27904421