Tag Archives: cannabis

Beta-caryophyllene is a dietary cannabinoid

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“The psychoactive cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa L. and the arachidonic acid-derived endocannabinoids are nonselective natural ligands for cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB(1)) and CB(2) receptors. Although the CB(1) receptor is responsible for the psychomodulatory effects, activation of the CB(2) receptor is a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of inflammation, pain, atherosclerosis, and osteoporosis.

 Here, we report that the widespread plant volatile (E)-beta-caryophyllene [(E)-BCP] selectively binds to the CB(2) receptor and that it is a functional CB(2) agonist.

 Intriguingly, (E)-BCP is a common constituent of the essential oils of numerous spice and food plants and a major component in Cannabis.

 …this natural product exerts cannabimimetic effects in vivo. These results identify (E)-BCP as a functional nonpsychoactive CB(2) receptor ligand in foodstuff and as a macrocyclic antiinflammatory cannabinoid in Cannabis…

 Because (E)-BCP is a major constituent in Cannabis essential oil and shows significant cannabimimetic effects, it may also contribute to the overall effect of Cannabis preparations…”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2449371/

The endocannabinoid system in the physiology and pathophysiology of the gastrointestinal tract.

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“Numerous investigations have recently demonstrated the important roles of the endocannabinoid system in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract under physiological and pathophysiological conditions.

 In the GI tract, cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptors are present in neurons of the enteric nervous system and in sensory terminals of vagal and spinal neurons, while cannabinoid type 2 receptors are located in immune cells. Activation of CB1 receptors was shown to modulate several functions in the GI tract, including gastric secretion, gastric emptying and intestinal motility.

Under pathophysiological conditions induced experimentally in rodents, the endocannabinoid system conveys protection to the GI tract (e.g. from inflammation and abnormally high gastric and enteric secretions).

Such protective activities are largely in agreement with anecdotal reports from folk medicine on the use of Cannabis sativa extracts by subjects suffering from various GI disorders.

 Thus, the endocannabinoid system may serve as a potentially promising therapeutic target against different GI disorders, including frankly inflammatory bowel diseases (e.g. Crohn’s disease), functional bowel diseases (e.g. irritable bowel syndrome) and secretion- and motility-related disorders.

As stimulation of this modulatory system by CB1 receptor agonists can lead to unwanted psychotropic side effects, an alternative and promising avenue for therapeutic applications resides in the treatment with CB1 receptor agonists that are unable to cross the blood-brain barrier, or with compounds that inhibit the degradation of endogenous ligands (endocannabinoids) of CB1 receptors, hence prolonging the activity of the endocannabinoid system.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16133420

Medical cannabis: the opportunity versus the temptation.

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“The cannabis plant has been known to humanity for centuries as a remedy for pain, diarrhea, and inflammation. Current research has shown cannabis to be a useful remedy for many diseases, including multiple sclerosis, dystonia, and chronic pain.

 Cannabinoids are used to improve food intake in anorexia of AIDS patients and to prevent vomiting due to cancer chemotherapy. In inflammatory conditions cannabinoids improve pain in rheumatoid arthritis and pain and diarrhea in Crohn’s disease. Cannabinoids reduce the size of brain infarct and cardiac reperfusion injury. However, cannabinoid treatment is not free of side effects including euphoria, psychosis, anxiety, paranoia, dependence and abuse.

Since the cannabinoid system is involved in many physiological and pathological processes, the therapeutic potential is great. We must not be blind to the opportunity offered to us by medical cannabis just because it is an illicit drug, nor should we be temped by the quick response of patients to the central effect of cannabis. More research is warranted to explore the full potential of cannabis as medicine.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22352284

Councilman Credits Marijuana For Helping Put His Cancer In Remission – CBS News

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“LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com)  — Los Angeles Councilman Bill Rosendahl announced Thursday his cancer is in remission.The 67-year-old Rosendahl gave major credit to medical marijuana for his recovery.”

Los Angeles Councilmember Bill Rosendahl (credit: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images) 

“Rosendahl told reporters last July he was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer of the ureter, located between his kidney and bladder.

“Frankly I was given a death sentence,” he said. Doctors told him he would not live to see last November’s election and prompted his decision not to seek a third term.

“I went though five months of hell,” Rosendahl said.

Marijuana allowed him to get a full and painless night’s sleep and he said he started feeling stronger about two months ago.

“I hope to live another 30 years,” Rosehdahl said, “I’m very optimistic.”

Rosendahl is returning to the private sector now that his district is set to transfer to his chief of staff, Mike Bonin, who won in the March 5 primary election.

Rosendahl supports Proposition D, one of three medical marijuana measures on the May 21 ballot that would keep about 130 existing pot dispensaries open in Los Angeles, while restricting others from opening.”

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/05/02/councilman-credits-marijuana-for-helping-put-his-cancer-in-remission/

Involvement of PPARγ in the antitumoral action of cannabinoids on hepatocellular carcinoma.

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Logo of cddis “Cannabinoids exert antiproliferative effects in a wide range of tumoral cells, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. In this study, we examined whether the PPARγ-activated pathway contributed to the antitumor effect of two cannabinoids, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and JWH-015, against HepG2 and HUH-7 HCC cells. Taken together, we demonstrate for the first time that the antiproliferative action of the cannabinoids THC and JWH-015 on HCC, in vitro and in vivo, are modulated by upregulation of PPARγ-dependent pathways.”  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23640460

“The antitumor activity of cannabinoids against HCC cells has been related to the ability of these drugs to induce apoptosis and autophagy. In particular, it has been previously described that cannabinoids arrest cell proliferation, reduce cell migration and inhibit angiogenesis, and therefore, cannabinoid-like compounds offer a therapeutic potential for the treatment of many types of cancer.”  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3674350/

“We here illustrate that the cannabinoids THC and JWH-015 exert antitumor effect against the human HCC cell lines HepG2 and HUH-7 in vitro and in vivo through PPARγ.”  https://www.nature.com/articles/cddis2013141

Active Component Of Marijuana Has Anti-Cancer Effects, Study Suggests

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“Guillermo Velasco and colleagues, at Complutense University, Spain, have provided evidence that suggests that cannabinoids such as the main active component of marijuana (THC) have anticancer effects on human brain cancer cells.

In the study, THC was found to induce the death of various human brain cancer cell lines and primary cultured human brain cancer cells by a process known as autophagy.

Consistent with the in vitro data, administration of THC to mice with human tumors decreased tumor growth and induced the tumor cells to undergo autophagy. As analysis of tumors from two patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (a highly aggressive brain tumor) receiving intracranial THC administration showed signs of autophagy, the authors suggest that cannabinoid administration may provide a new approach to targeting human cancers.”  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090401181217.htm

“Cannabinoid action induces autophagy-mediated cell death through stimulation of ER stress in human glioma cells” https://www.jci.org/articles/view/37948

 

A tale of two cannabinoids: the therapeutic rationale for combining tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol.

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“This study examines the current knowledge of physiological and clinical effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) and presents a rationale for their combination in pharmaceutical preparations. Cannabinoid and vanilloid receptor effects as well as non-receptor mechanisms are explored, such as the capability of THC and CBD to act as anti-inflammatory substances independent of cyclo-oxygenase (COX) inhibition.

CBD is demonstrated to antagonise some undesirable effects of THC including intoxication, sedation and tachycardia, while contributing analgesic, anti-emetic, and anti-carcinogenic properties in its own right.

In modern clinical trials, this has permitted the administration of higher doses of THC, providing evidence for clinical efficacy and safety for cannabis based extracts in treatment of spasticity, central pain and lower urinary tract symptoms in multiple sclerosis, as well as sleep disturbances, peripheral neuropathic pain, brachial plexus avulsion symptoms, rheumatoid arthritis and intractable cancer pain. Prospects for future application of whole cannabis extracts in neuroprotection, drug dependency, and neoplastic disorders are further examined.

The hypothesis that the combination of THC and CBD increases clinical efficacy while reducing adverse events is supported.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16209908

Antitumor Effects of THC.

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“1-Trans-[delta.sup.9]-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) the main active component of marijuana, has been shown to exhibit anticancer activity.

Galve-Roperh et al. reported that intratumoral administration of THC induces apoptosis of transformed neural cells in culture, and also induces a considerable regression of malignant gliomas in Wistar rats and in mice… These authors suggest that their “results may provide the basis for a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of malignant gliomas.”

Thus, in our studies, rats and mice that received THC for 2 years exhibited body weight reductions, enhanced survival rates, and decreased tumor incidences in several sites, mainly organs under hormonal control.

These earlier experimental carcinogenesis results on THC clearly lend further validity to the notion that cannabinoids may indeed be anticarcinogenic.”

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Antitumor+Effects+of+THC.-a068148345

“Antitumor effects of THC.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11097557

Cannabis: Drink Your Medicine! A Poor Man’s Guide to Juicing

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Add a handful of leaves (less stems)...

“There are currently two camps on curing cancer with cannabis: the hot process created by Canadian Rick Simpson some 13 years ago, and juicing raw leaves advocated by Dr. William Courtney of California. Both have had undeniable success in curing cancer and keeping serious illness at bay with the plant, heated or not…

 

Poor Man’s Juicing 101

Step 1

Remove stems. Rinse, soak, and rinse leaves again. (I soak overnight if leaves have been sprayed.)

Step 2

Add one heaping handful of leaves to blender.

Step 3

Add one cup of juice or water.

Step 4

Blend to “liquefy.”

Step 5

Strain into a container using a sieve.

Step 6

Store juice in glass jars. Juice will keep for a few days in the fridge.

Step 7

Freeze in ice cube trays or plastic containers, wrap in plastic and store in freezer for several weeks.” 

 
 
8. Freeze in plastic containers and turn out into plastic wrap. Drink as soon as thawed.
 
 

Cannabis tea revisited: a systematic evaluation of the cannabinoid composition of cannabis tea.

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“Cannabis is one of the oldest known medicinal plants, and a large variety of biological activities have been described. The main constituents, the cannabinoids, are thought to be most important for these activities. Although smoking of cannabis is by far the most common way of consumption, a significant part of medicinal users consume it in the form of a tea.

However, not much is known about the composition of cannabis tea, or the effect of different parameters during preparation, handling or storage. In this study we used the high-grade cannabis available in Dutch pharmacies to study the cannabinoid composition of tea under standardized and quantitative conditions. Experimental conditions were systematically varied in order to mimic the possible variations made by medicinal users.

During analysis there was a specific focus on the cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol and its acidic precursor, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid. Also the role of non-psychoactive cannabinoids as components of cannabis tea are discussed.

The results obtained in this study provide a clear quantitative insight in the phytochemistry of cannabis tea preparation and can contribute to a better appreciation of this mode of cannabis administration.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17604926