Category Archives: THC (Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol)

Activation of cannabinoid 2 receptors protects against cerebral ischemia by inhibiting neutrophil recruitment

Posted on by

Figure 1.

“THE CONSEQUENCES OF ISCHEMIC INJURY in liver, heart, and brain can be ameliorated by cannabinoids, a group of diverse compounds that include constituents of the plant Cannabis sativa (phytocannabinoids), endogenous lipids (endocannabinoids), and synthetic substances. Most of the effects of cannabinoids are mediated by the G-protein-coupled receptors cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2)… 

Cannabinoids protect against ischemic stroke…

Activation of the cannabinoid 2 receptor (CB2) reduces ischemic injury in several organs…

In conclusion, our data demonstrate that by activating p38 in neutrophils, CB2 agonists inhibit neutrophil recruitment to the brain and protect against ischemic brain injury.”

http://www.fasebj.org/content/24/3/788.long

Researchers Meet to Discuss Cannabinoid-Based Stroke Therapy

Posted on by

Murikinati et al., 2010 shows that brain tissue is saved after a stroke with JWH-133

“The Cannabinoid Discussion Group at Temple University met for the second time this semester to review a recent scientific publication from a German Laboratory. The presenter was Zachary Reichenbach, an MD/Ph.D student at Temple, who is currently working in the laboratory of Dr.Ron Tuma. The Tuma lab is focused on studying cannabinoid based therapies for the treatment of cerebral ischemia resulting from stroke. Mr.Reichenbach led the discussion on a research paper which showed that the cannabinoid JWH-133 activates the cannabinoid type 2 receptor (CB2R), resulting a decrease in infarct size or brain damage duringreperfusion following an ischemic event.

Mr.Reichenbach provided background on stroke, stating that it is the 3rd cause of death in this country, and 85% of those strokes are of the ischemic variety. During an ischemic event there is a hyper-immune response resulting in the recruitment of immune cells that kill brain tissue. Cannabinoids have been shown to modulate the immune system, notably the Tuma lab has published data on the CB2 receptor’s anti-inflammatory effects. Activating the CB2 receptor decreases the migration of hyper-immune cells to the brain. The more brain you save, the more you save someone from disabilities or death.

When asked about the implications of these findings on a cannabinoid that could be a potential stroke therapy, Mr.Reichenbach replied that the results of his work and others is promising…

And just in case you were wondering, THC, the active ingredient in Cannabis, activates both the CB1 and CB2 receptor.”

http://www.examiner.com/article/researchers-meet-to-discuss-cannabinoid-based-stroke-therapy

Cannabis gives stroke patients hope

Posted on by

“New research by University of Otago scientists suggests some mechanisms in the brain targeted by cannabis could become drugs targets to counter brain cell damage after a stroke.

Researchers from the Medical School’s Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology have been the first in the world to show the cannabinoid CB2 receptor appears in the rat brain following a stroke. Their findings were published recently in the journal Neuroscience Letters.

Dr John Ashton says the CB2 receptor is a protein produced as part of the body’s immune response system.

“This response is triggered by stroke and causes the inflammation that leads to damage in the area of the brain around where the stroke has occurred.

“If the inflammation can be stopped or reduced then it offers the hope of reducing the extent of the damage caused by stroke – and CB2 offers a potential target for such a drug.””

http://www.sciencealert.com.au/news/20071404-15007.html

“Cerebral hypoxia-ischemia and middle cerebral artery occlusion induce expression of the cannabinoid CB2 receptor in the brain. The presence of CB2-positive cells in the brain following stroke may provide a novel strategy for cannabinoid-mediated intervention into stroke induced neurodegeneration without the psychoactive effects of CB1 receptor stimulation.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17123706

Chemicals in Marijuana May Help Stroke Victims

Posted on by

NewsBriefs

“Scientists at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) said a chemical in marijuana may protect the brain from damage inflicted by a stroke.

Their study was reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (Aidan Hampson, et al., “Cannabidiol and Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol Are Neuroprotective Antioxidants,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, July 7, 1998, Vol. 95, Issue 14, p. 8268; “Pot Chemicals Might Inhibit Breast Tumors, Stroke Damage,” Dallas Morning News, July 13, 1998; Vanessa Thorpe, “Chemicals Help Brain Damage After Stroke,” The Independent (UK), July 19, 1998).

NIMH scientists researched the effects of two cannabinoids, cannabidiol and THC, on the brains of rats. THC is the ingredient in marijuana that causes a psychoactive effect. However, cannabidiol is “a better candidate,” in part, because it does not cause a “high” in the patient, said Aidan Hampson, a neuropharmacologist at NIMH who led the study.

The cannabinoids block a neurochemical, known as glutamate, that leads to the formation of toxic oxidizing molecules that kill brain cells. Glutamate is produced in the brain if the oxygen supply is cut off, for example, as the result of blood clot leading to a stroke.

Researchers found that cannabidiol is a more effective antioxidant than vitamins A and E, which already are known to block the damaging effects of glutamate.”

http://www.ndsn.org/julaug98/medmj1.html

Cannabis Counter Brain Cell Damage After a Stroke

Posted on by

“New research by University of Otago scientists suggests some mechanisms in the brain targeted by cannabis could become drugs targets to counter brain cell damage after a stroke.

Researchers from the Medical School’s Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology have been the first in the world to show the cannabinoid CB2 receptor appears in the rat brain following a stroke.

Their findings were published recently in the journal Neuroscience Letters.

Dr John Ashton says the CB2 receptor is a protein produced as part of the body’s immune response system.

“This response is triggered by stroke and causes the inflammation that leads to damage in the area of the brain around where the stroke has occurred.

“If the inflammation can be stopped or reduced then it offers the hope of reducing the extent of the damage caused by stroke – and CB2 offers a potential target for such a drug.”

Dr Ashton says cannabis targets both the CB2 and the related CB1 receptors.

“THC, the major active ingredient of cannabis, acts mainly on CB1 but it also affects CB2. While THC is known to have some positive effects in terms of pain management its use is severely limited because of the way it triggers the psychoactive CB1 receptors in the brain,” he says.

“The aim would be to develop a drug that targets the CB2 receptor without affecting CB1.”

Dr Ashton says the relationship between cannabis and cannabinoid drugs has similarities to the relationship between heroin and codeine.

“Heroin and codeine share common targets, but by designing codeine in such a way that it eliminated the psychoactive side-effects seen with heroin, a therapeutically useful drug was developed. There is the potential to do the same with cannabinoids.”

Drugs targeting CB2 could also have potential therapeutic use in other conditions involving inflammatory damage to the brain, such as Huntington’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease. There may also be scope to use them in pain management.

“CB2 cells are also found in the spinal cord. They regulate pain signals making them a potential target for new pain killing drugs.””

http://www.hightimes.com/read/cannabis-counter-brain-cell-damage-after-stroke

A Vapourized Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) Delivery System Part II: Comparison of Behavioural Effects of Pulmonary Versus Parenteral Cannabinoid Exposure in Rodents.

Posted on by

“These results suggest vapourized Δ9-THC administration produces behavioural effects qualitatively different from those induced by IP administration in rodents. Furthermore, vapourized Δ9-THC delivery in rodents may produce behavioural effects more comparable to those observed in humans. We conclude that some of the conflicting findings in animal and human cannabinoid studies may be related to pharmacokinetic differences associated with route of administration.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24956154

Preliminary, Open-Label, Pilot Study of Add-On Oral Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol in Chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Posted on by

“Marijuana is often used as compassion add-on therapy for treatment-resistant PTSD.

This open-label study evaluates the tolerance and safety of orally absorbable Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for chronic PTSD.

RESULTS:

There were mild adverse effects in three patients, none of which led to treatment discontinuation. The intervention caused a statistically significant improvement in global symptom severity, sleep quality, frequency of nightmares, and PTSD hyperarousal symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS:

Orally absorbable Δ9-THC was safe and well tolerated by patients with chronic PTSD.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24935052

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

Cannibinoids offer novel treatment for pain in sickle cell disease, study suggests

Posted on by

ScienceDaily: Your source for the latest research news

“Researchers have discovered that cannibinoids offer a novel approach to ease the chronic and acute pain caused by sickle cell disease.

“This paper provides proof that we can use other classifications of drugs to treat pain in patients with sickle cell disease,” Gupta said.

“Cannibinoids offer great promise in the treatment of chronic and acute pain, and they’re effective in much lower amounts than opioids — the only currently approved treatment for this disease.”

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100722121225.htm

“Pain-related behaviors and neurochemical alterations in mice expressing sickle hemoglobin: modulation by cannabinoids… Our observations in these mice suggest that both systemically administered and locally applied cannabinoids may be beneficial in treating pain in SCD.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2913454/

Vaporized Cannabis for Chronic Pain Associated With Sickle Cell Disease (Cannabis-SCD) -ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01771731

Posted on by

“Cannabinoid-Based Therapy and Approaches to Quantify Pain in Sickle Cell Disease.

Our primary objective is to assess whether inhaling vaporized cannabis ameliorates chronic pain in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). As these patients will all be on chronic opioid analgesics, the investigators will also assess the possible synergistic affect between inhaled cannabis and opioids.

The investigators will also assess the clinical safety of the concomitant use of cannabinoids and these opioids in patients with SCD by monitoring the short-term side effects associated with combined therapy.

Finally, the investigators will evaluate the short-term effects of inhaled cannabis on markers of inflammation and disease progression in patients with SCD.

Hypotheses are as follows:

  1. Inhaled cannabis will significantly reduce chronic pain in patients with SCD.
  2. Inhaled cannabis will significantly alter the short-term side effects experienced by patients who take opioids for SCD.
  3. Inhaled cannabis will significantly alter markers of inflammation and disease progression in patients with SCD compared to placebo.
Subjects will complete a 5-day pain diary prior to admission to the Clinical Research Center (CRC) to establish a baseline of pain. They will then be assigned to inhale either vaporized cannabis of mixed THC/CBD content (4.7% THC/5.1% CBD) or placebo cannabis (0% THC/0% CBD). Participants and personnel will be blinded as to assignment. Pain will be evaluated during the 5-day inpatient exposure. Participants will be asked to participate in two such 5-day sessions separated by at least a 2-week washout so that each will be exposed to the two experimental conditions.
Detailed Description:

This is a proof-of-principle investigation of the safety and potential effectiveness of inhaled vaporized cannabis when added to a stable analgesic regimen in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients with chronic pain. The study will be comprised of two 5-day intervention periods in the inpatient setting (the Clinical Research Center at SFGH), with completion of a 5-day daily pain diary prior to admission to establish an outpatient baseline. Participants will be randomly assigned, in double-blind fashion, to treatment with (A) vaporized cannabis with an approximately 1:1 ration of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol:cannabidiol or (B) vaporized placebo. Those who receive treatment A during the first admission will receive treatment B in the second, and those who receive treatment B during the first admission will receive treatment A in the second. The two admissions will be spaced at least 14 days apart.

On Day 1 of each admission, subjects will provide blood samples for baseline markers of inflammation and SCD disease progression. They will undergo assessments of pain, mood, and quality of life. At 12 pm on Day 1, they will inhale vaporized study agent (equivalent to 1 cannabis/placebo cigarette) using the Volcano® vaporizer; on Days 2-4 they will inhale study agent at 8 am, 2 pm, and 8 pm, and they will inhale their final dose on Day 5 at 8 am. Subjects will continue their pre-study analgesic regimen while in the study. If additional analgesia is required, supplemental therapy will be administered and the dose recorded. Pain measurements by visual analogue scale will be obtained every 2 hours while subjects are awake. On Day 5 a second set of blood samples for inflammation markers and disease progression will be obtained, and subjects will again complete pain, mood, and quality of life assessments.”

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT01771731#contacts

THC Can Manage Sickle Cell Disease

Posted on by

“Cannabinoids, the active ingredients in pot offer a new way to treat chronic and acute pain from sickle cell disease, ScienceDaily reports.

Currently the only treatment for the blood disease is opiods.

“Pain in SCD is described to be more intense than labor pain. The pain starts early in a patient’s life, often during infancy, and increases in severity with age.

[Cannibinoids are] effective in much lower amounts than opioids — the only currently approved treatment for this disease.”

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/LegalizationNation/archives/2010/07/23/daily-roundup-thc-can-manage-sickle-cell-disease-oakland-tweaks-medical-cannabis-taxes