“Alternative targets within the endocannabinoid system for future treatment of gastrointestinal diseases… Many beneficial effects of herbal cannabinoids on gut motility and inflammation have been demonstrated, suggesting a vast potential for these compounds in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders….endocannabinoid system’ (ECS), a cooperating network of molecules that regulate themetabolism of the body’s own and of exogenously administered cannabinoids. The ECS… offering many potential targets for pharmacological intervention. Of major therapeutic interest are nonpsychoactive cannabinoids that do not directly target cannabinoid receptors but still possess cannabinoid-like properties… promising alternative therapeutic tools to manipulate the ECS.”
Tag Archives: endocannabinoid system
Concomitant consumption of marijuana, alcohol and tobacco in oral squamous cell carcinoma development and progression: Recent advances and challenges
“Carcinogens found in tobacco are also concentrated in marijuana, but the latter also contains high levels of cannabinoids, bioactive compounds responsible for several effects such as euphoria and analgesia. However, Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ(9)-THC), the major psychotropic cannabinoid found in plants, causes a reduction of cellular metabolism and induction of apoptosis (progarmmed cell death), both of which are anti-neoplastic properties…”
Cannabinoids Induce Apoptosis of Pancreatic Tumor Cells via Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress–Related Genes
“The hemp plant Cannabis sativa produces unique compounds known as cannabinoids, of which Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the most important… The present study was undertaken to investigate the antitumoral action of cannabinoids in pancreatic cancer and the molecular mechanisms involved in that effect… Cannabinoids induce apoptosis of pancreatic tumor cells via endoplasmic reticulum stress-related genes…These findings may contribute to set the basis for a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.”
Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol inhibits cell cycle progression in human breast cancer cells through Cdc2 regulation.
” Here, we show that Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), through activation of CB(2) cannabinoid receptors, reduces human breast cancer cell proliferation by blocking the progression of the cell cycle and by inducing apoptosis… these data might set the bases for a cannabinoid therapy for the management of breast cancer.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16818634
Cannabis-induced cytotoxicity in leukemic cell lines: the role of the cannabinoid receptors and the MAPK pathway
“We therefore investigated the role of the CB-Rs (CannaBinoid-Receptors) in mediating apoptosis in 3 leukemic cell lines… We have shown that THC is a potent inducer of apoptosis… THC-induced cell death…”
http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/content/105/3/1214.long
Harvard Study: Marijuana Cuts Lung Cancer Tumor Growth In Half
“The active ingredient in marijuana cuts tumor growth in common lung cancer in half and significantly reduces the ability of the cancer to spread, say researchers at Harvard University who tested the chemical in both lab and mouse studies.”
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070417193338.htm
Cannabinoids in pancreatic cancer: Correlation with survival and pain
“Cannabinoids exert antiproliferative properties in a variety of malignant tumors, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma … Cannabinoids can induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells…Furthermore, they have been shown to decrease invasiveness of cancer cells.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2225529/?tool=pubmed
CANNABINOIDS: POTENTIAL ANTICANCER AGENTS
The study by Manuel Guzmán of Madrid Spain found that cannabinoids, the active components of marijuana, inhibit tumor growth in laboratory animals. They do so by modulating key cell-signalling pathways, thereby inducing direct growth arrest and death of tumor cells, as well as by inhibiting the growth of blood vessels that supply the tumor.
The emerging role of the endocannabinoid system in cardiovascular disease
“… the EndoCannabinoid System has been implicated in a growing number of physiological functions of the nervous system and various peripheral organs, and its modulation turned out to hold tremendous therapeutic promise in a wide range of disparate diseases and pathological conditions, ranging from mood and anxiety disorders, movement disorders, neuropathic pain, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injury to cancer, glaucoma, osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, stroke, hypertension, and obesity/ metabolic syndrome to name just a few…”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2791499/?tool=pubmed
The endocannabinoid system in prostate cancer
“Accumulating evidence indicate that the endocannabinoid system is dysregulated in prostate cancer… Overexpression of several components of the endocannabinoid system correlate with prostate cancer grade and progression, potentially providing a new therapeutic target for prostate cancer… several cannabinoids exert antitumoral properties against prostate cancer, reducing xenograft prostate tumor growth, prostate cancer cell proliferation and cell migration… the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids against prostate cancer is very promising…”