Natural Salicylates and Their Roles in Human Health

Posted on December 3, 2020 by David Worrell

“Salicylic acid (SA) is a plant hormone which plays a crucial role in the plant defense against various pathogens and abiotic stresses. Increasing reports suggest that this phenolic compound and its derivatives, collectively termed salicylates, not only regulate plant defense but also have beneficial effects on human health. Both natural and synthetic salicylates are known to have multiple targets in humans, thereby exhibiting various appreciating pharmacological roles, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, neuroprotective, antidiabetic effects, and so on. The role of some salicylates, such as acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), 5-aminosalicylic acid (mesalazine), and amorfrutins in human diseases has been well studied in vitro. However, their clinical significance in different diseases is largely unknown. Based on recent studies, five natural salicylates, including amorfrutin, ginkgolic acid, grifolic acid, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, and cannabidiolic acid, showed potential roles in different challenging human diseases. This review summarizes together some of the recent information on multitarget regulatory activities of these natural salicylates and their pharmacological roles in human health.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33260759/

https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/23/9049

Anticancer Effect of New Cannabinoids Derived From Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid on PANC-1 and AsPC-1 Human Pancreas Tumor Cells

Posted on July 10, 2020 by David Worrell

View details for Journal of Pancreatic Cancer cover image

“New tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) derivatives ALAM027 and ALAM108 were proposed for the treatment of the pancreatic cancer disease.

Methods: The in vitro effect of new cannabinoids ALAM027 and ALAM108 was tested against PANC-1 and AsPC-1 cell lines by CellTiter Glo assay. Pancreatic cancer xenograft model was used for the in vivo anticancer activity study of these compounds on PANC-1 cells.

Results: The in vitro study of new cannabinoids showed greater activity of ALAM108 than ALAM027 both for PANC-1 and AsPC-1 cells. The in vivo study of new cannabinoids on PANC-1 cells showed that their oral administration was effective in reducing tumor volume and tumor weight, and did not lead to any discomfort and weight loss of mice.

Conclusion: The cannabinoids ALAM108 and ALAM027 inhibited the tumor growing 1.6-2 times in mice with human PANC-1 cells.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32642629/

“The in vitro study of new cannabinoids showed greater activity of ALAM108 than of ALAM027 both for PANC-1 and AsPC-1 pancreas tumor cells. The in vivo study of these cannabinoids on PANC-1 cells showed that their oral administration decreased the tumor size 1.6–2 times and did not lead to any discomfort, psychotic effects, and weight loss of mice. Further study of these compounds will allow to determine the mechanism of their action on cancer cells and may open the way to new therapeutic drugs based on THCA.”

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/pancan.2020.0003

FIG. 1.

Δ9‐TETRAHYDROCANNABINOLIC ACID ALLEVIATES COLLAGEN‐INDUCED ARTHRITIS: ROLE OF PPARγ AND CB1 RECEPTORS

Posted on June 8, 2020 by David Worrell

“Δ⁹‐THCA‐A, the precursor of Δ⁹‐THC, is a non‐psychotropic phytocannabinoid that shows PPARγ agonistic activity. Herein, we investigated Δ⁹‐THCA ability to modulate classic cannabinoid receptors (CB₁ and CB₂) and evaluated its anti‐arthritis activity.

Experimental Approach

Cannabinoid receptors binding and intrinsic activity, as well as their downstream signaling were analyzed in vitro and in silico . The anti‐arthritis properties of Δ⁹‐THCA‐A were studied in human chondrocytes and in the murine model of collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA). Plasmatic disease biomarkers were identified by liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) based on proteomic and ELISA assays.

Key Results

Functional and docking analyses showed that Δ⁹‐THCA‐A can act as an orthosteric CB₁ agonist and also as a positive allosteric modulator in the presence of CP‐55,940. In addition, Δ⁹‐THCA‐A seemed to be an inverse agonist for CB_2. In vivo experiments showed that Δ⁹‐THCA‐A reduced arthritis in CIA mice. Δ⁹‐THCA‐A prevented the infiltration of inflammatory cells; synovium hyperplasia and cartilage damage. Furthermore, Δ⁹‐THCA‐A inhibited the expression of inflammatory and catabolic genes on knee joints. The anti‐arthritic effect of Δ⁹‐THCA‐A was ablated by either SR141716 or T0070907. Analysis of plasmatic biomarkers as well as determination of cytokines and anti‐collagen antibodies confirmed that Δ⁹‐THCA‐A mediates its activity mainly through PPARγ and CB₁ pathways.

Conclusion and Implications

Δ⁹‐THCA‐A modulates CB₁ receptor through the orthosteric and allosteric binding sites. In addition, our studies document that Δ⁹‐THCA‐A exerts anti‐arthritis activity through CB₁/PPARγ pathways, highlighting its potential for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32510591/

https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/bph.15155

Elucidation of structure-function relationship of THCA and CBDA synthase from Cannabis sativa L.

Posted on July 30, 2018 by David Worrell

“Cannabinoids are secondary natural products from the plant Cannabis sativa L. Therapeutic indications of cannabinoids currently comprise a significant area of medicinal research. We have expressed the Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid synthase (THCAS) and cannabidiolic acid synthase (CBDAS) recombinantly in Komagataella phaffii and could detect eight different products with a cannabinoid scaffold after conversion of the precursor cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). Besides five products remaining to be identified, both enzymes were forming three major cannabinoids of C. sativa – Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and cannabichromenic acid (CBCA). These studies lay the groundwork for further research as well as biotechnological cannabinoid production.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30053500

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168165618305698?via%3Dihub

]]>

Anti-Inflammatory Activity in Colon Models Is Derived from Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid That Interacts with Additional Compounds in Cannabis Extracts.

Posted on October 31, 2017 by David Worrell

“Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) include Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. Cannabis sativa preparations have beneficial effects for IBD patients. However, C. sativa extracts contain hundreds of compounds. Although there is much knowledge of the activity of different cannabinoids and their receptor agonists or antagonists, the cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activity of whole C. sativa extracts has never been characterized in detail with in vitro and ex vivo colon models.

Material and Methods: The anti-inflammatory activity of C. sativa extracts was studied on three lines of epithelial cells and on colon tissue. C. sativa flowers were extracted with ethanol, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the level of interleukin-8 in colon cells and tissue biopsies, chemical analysis was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance and gene expression was determined by quantitative real-time PCR.

Results: The anti-inflammatory activity of Cannabis extracts derives from D9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) present in fraction 7 (F7) of the extract. However, all fractions of C. sativa at a certain combination of concentrations have a significant increased cytotoxic activity. GPR55 receptor antagonist significantly reduces the anti-inflammatory activity of F7, whereas cannabinoid type 2 receptor antagonist significantly increases HCT116 cell proliferation. Also, cannabidiol (CBD) shows dose dependent cytotoxic activity, whereas anti-inflammatory activity was found only for the low concentration of CBD, and in a bell-shaped rather than dose-dependent manner. Activity of the extract and active fraction was verified on colon tissues taken from IBD patients, and was shown to suppress cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) and metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) gene expression in both cell culture and colon tissue.

Conclusions: It is suggested that the anti-inflammatory activity of Cannabis extracts on colon epithelial cells derives from a fraction of the extract that contains THCA, and is mediated, at least partially, via GPR55 receptor. The cytotoxic activity of the C. sativa extract was increased by combining all fractions at a certain combination of concentrations and was partially affected by CB2 receptor antagonist that increased cell proliferation. It is suggested that in a nonpsychoactive treatment for IBD, THCA should be used rather than CBD.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29082314

http://www.liebertpub.com/manuscript/can

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

Posted on April 20, 2013 by David Worrell

“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

THC Total Health Care

A comprehensive encyclopedia of THC related medical research articles

Tag Archives: tetrahydrocannabinolic acid