“Cannabinoids and the endo-cannabinoid system play an important role in the sensation of pain. As conventional analgesics are often associated with serious side-effects, cannabinoids and agonists of their receptors offer a useful alternative or coanalgesic in the treatment of pain. The aim of this work is to summarize the role of cannabinoids and their receptors in nociception and pain treatment.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2991928/
Tag Archives: Cannabinoids
The Combination of Cannabidiol and Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Enhances the Anticancer Effects of Radiation in an Orthotopic Murine Glioma Model.
“High-grade glioma is one of the most aggressive cancers in adult humans and long-term survival rates are very low as standard treatments for glioma remain largely unsuccessful.
Cannabinoids have been shown to specifically inhibit glioma growth as well as neutralize oncogenic processes such as angiogenesis.
In an attempt to improve treatment outcome, we have investigated the effect of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) both alone and in combination with radiotherapy in a number of glioma cell lines (T98G, U87MG, and GL261).
Cannabinoids were used in two forms, pure (P) and as a botanical drug substance (BDS).
Results demonstrated a duration- and dose-dependent reduction in cell viability with each cannabinoid and suggested that THC-BDS was more efficacious than THC-P, whereas, conversely, CBD-P was more efficacious than CBD-BDS.
…increase in radiosensitivity was associated with an increase in markers of autophagy and apoptosis.
These in vitro results were recapitulated in an orthotopic murine model for glioma, which showed dramatic reductions in tumor volumes when both cannabinoids were used with irradiation.
Taken together, our data highlight the possibility that these cannabinoids can prime glioma cells to respond better to ionizing radiation, and suggest a potential clinical benefit for glioma patients by using these two treatment modalities.”
Anti-aversive role of the endocannabinoid system in the periaqueductal gray stimulation model of panic attacks in rats.
“Direct activation of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor in the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray (dlPAG) inhibits anxiety- and panic-related behaviours in experimental animals. It has remained unclear, however, whether the local endocannabinoid signalling is recruited as a protective mechanism against aversive stimuli.
The present study tested the hypothesis that the endocannabinoid system counteracts aversive responses in the dlPAG-stimulation model of panic attacks…
The endocannabinoid system in the dlPAG attenuates the behavioural, cellular and cardiovascular consequences of aversive stimuli. This process may be considered for the development of additional treatments against panic and other anxiety-related disorders.”
High-intensity cannabis use associated with lower plasma human immunodeficiency virus-1 RNA viral load among recently infected people who use injection drugs.
“Cannabis use is common among people who are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
While there is growing pre-clinical evidence of the immunomodulatory and anti-viral effects of cannabinoids, their possible effects on HIV disease parameters in humans are largely unknown. Thus, we sought to investigate the possible effects of cannabis use on plasma HIV-1 RNA viral loads (pVLs) among recently seroconverted illicit drug users…
Consistent with the findings from recent in vitro and in vivo studies, including one conducted among lentiviral-infected primates, we observed a strong association between cannabis use and lower pVL following seroconversion among illicit drug-using participants.
Our findings support the further investigation of the immunomodulatory or antiviral effects of cannabinoids among individuals living with HIV/AIDS.”
Targeting the endocannabinoid system to treat haunting traumatic memories
“One of the core symptoms in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the traumatic memory that constantly haunts the patient.
An increasing body of evidence points to the endocannabinoid (eCB) system as a key system in the regulation of emotionality and memory.
Hence, eCB enhancers may be the ideal pharmacological treatment for PTSD…
…eCBs have an essential role in maintaining emotional homeostasis and in modulating memory consolidation, retrieval and extinction.
Hence, the authors concluded that eCBs could be an ideal drug to treat PTSD by addressing both the emotional and cognitive aspects of the disorder.
Indeed, accumulating data from both clinical and pre-clinical studies suggest that targeting the eCB system may benefit PTSD.
Several studies support the self-medication hypothesis explanation for cannabis use to cope with PTSD symptoms.
To conclude, the eCB system may be a useful target for treating both the cognitive and emotional features of PTSD…”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3776936/
http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/
Cannabinoids inhibit migration of microglial-like cells to the HIV protein Tat.
“Microglia are a population of macrophage-like cells in the central nervous system (CNS) which, upon infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), secrete a plethora of inflammatory factors, including the virus-specified trans-activating protein Tat.
Tat has been implicated in HIV neuropathogenesis since it elicits chemokines, cytokines, and a chemotactic response from microglia. It also harbors a β-chemokine receptor binding motif, articulating a mode by which it acts as a migration stimulus.
Since select cannabinoids have anti-inflammatory properties, cross the blood-brain barrier, and target specific receptors, they have potential to serve as agents for dampening untoward neuroimmune responses.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of select cannabinoids on the migration of microglial-like cells toward Tat.
…it was demonstrated that the exogenous cannabinoids Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CP55940 exerted a concentration-related reduction in the migration of BV-2 cells towards Tat.
These results indicate that cannabinoid-mediated inhibition of BV-2 microglial-like cell migration to Tat is linked functionally to the CB2R…”
Cannabinoid inhibition of macrophage migration to the trans-activating (Tat) protein of HIV-1 is linked to the CB(2) cannabinoid receptor.
“Macrophages and macrophage-like cells are important targets of HIV-1 infection at peripheral sites and in the central nervous system…
Collectively, the pharmacological and biochemical knockdown data indicate that cannabinoid-mediated modulation of macrophage migration to the HIV-1 Tat protein is linked to the CB(2)cannabinoid receptor.
Furthermore, these results suggest that the CB(2) cannabinoid receptor has potential to serve as a therapeutic target for ablation of HIV-1-associated untoward inflammatory response.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2846023/
http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/hivaids/
[There is evidence for the use of cannabinoids for symptomatic treatment of multiple sclerosis.]
“We identified 16 randomized placebo-controlled trials investigating cannabinoids as symptomatic treatment in multiple sclerosis (MS).
There is evidence that nabiximols (THC/CBD) oromucosal spray may reduce subjective symptoms of spasticity and that dronabinol (THC) is effective against neuropathic pain in patients with MS…”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25350886
http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/multiple-sclerosis-ms/
Cannabidiol: promise and pitfalls.
“Over the past few years, increasing public and political pressure has supported legalization of medical marijuana.
One of the main thrusts in this effort has related to the treatment of refractory epilepsy-especially in children with Dravet syndrome-using cannabidiol (CBD).
Despite initiatives in numerous states to at least legalize possession of CBD oil for treating epilepsy, little published evidence is available to prove or disprove the efficacy and safety of CBD in patients with epilepsy. This review highlights some of the basic science theory behind the use of CBD, summarizes published data on clinical use of CBD for epilepsy, and highlights issues related to the use of currently available CBD products.
Cannabidiol is the major nonpsychoactive component of Cannabis sativa.
Over the centuries, a number of medicinal preparations derived from C. sativa have been employed for a variety of disorders, including gout, rheumatism, malaria, pain, and fever.
These preparations were widely employed as analgesics by Western medical practitioners in the 19(th) century.
More recently, there is clinical evidence suggesting efficacy in HIV-associated neuropathic pain, as well as spasms associated with multiple sclerosis.”
Seizing an opportunity for the endocannabinoid system.
“Exogenous cannabinoids can limit seizures and neurodegeneration, and their actions are largely mimicked by endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids).
Endocannabinoids are mobilized by epileptiform activity and in turn influence this activity by inhibiting synaptic transmission; both excitatory and some inhibitory synapses can be suppressed, leading to potentially complex outcomes.
Moreover, the endocannabinoid system is not a fixed entity, and its strength can be enhanced or reduced.
Endocannabinoids and their receptors are altered by epileptic seizures in ways that can reduce the efficacy of both exogenous and endogenous cannabinoids in sometimes unexpected ways.”