“Therapeutic cannabis use…Evidence on the therapeutic use of cannabis suggests it may produce improvements in quality of life, which has led to increased use among people with life-limiting illnesses…”
Tag Archives: therapeutic
Therapeutic utility of cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB(2)) selective agonists.
“The cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) is a class A GPCR that was cloned in 1993 while looking for an alternative receptor that could explain the pharmacological properties of Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol.
CB2 was identified among cDNAs based on its similarity in amino acid sequence to the CB1receptor and helped provide an explanation for the established effects of cannabinoids on the immune system.
In addition to the immune system, CB2 has widespread tissue expression and has been found in brain, peripheral nervous system, and gastrointestinal tract.
Several “mixed” cannabinoid agonists are currently in clinical use primarily for controlling pain, and it is believed that selective CB2 agonism may afford a superior analgesic agent devoid of the centrally mediated CB1 effects.
Thus, selective CB2 receptor agonists represent high value putative therapeutics for treating pain and other disease states. In this Perspective, we seek to provide a concise update of progress in the field.”
Activation of CB2 receptors as a potential therapeutic target for migraine: evaluation in an animal model.
“Experimental animal models of migraine have suggested the existence of interactions between the endocannabinoid system and pain mediation in migraine.
Extensive evidence has demonstrated a role for the cannabinoid-1 (CB1) receptor in antinociception.
…recent research suggests that also CB2 receptors, especially located outside the central nervous system, play a role in the perception of pain…
In this study we evaluated the role of CB2 receptors in two animal models of pain that may be relevant for migraine…
CONCLUSION:
These findings suggest that the pharmacological manipulation of the CB2 receptor may represent a potential therapeutic tool for the treatment of migraine.”
CB2 cannabinoid receptor mediation of antinociception.
“Management of acute pain remains a significant clinical problem. In preclinical studies, CB2 cannabinoid receptor-selective agonists inhibit nociception without producing central nervous system side effects.
The experiments reported here further test the hypothesis that CB2 receptor activation inhibits nociception…
The CB2 receptor-selective agonist produces antinociceptive… activation of CB2 receptors results in antinociception…
…confirm the potential therapeutic relevance of CB2 cannabinoid receptors for the treatment of acute pain.”
Cannabinoids for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease: moving toward the clinic.
“The limited effectiveness of current therapies against Alzheimer’s disease (AD) highlights the need for intensifying research efforts devoted to developing new agents for preventing or retarding the disease process. During the last few years, targeting the endogenous cannabinoid system has emerged as a potential therapeutic approach to treat Alzheimer.
The endocannabinoid system is composed by a number of cannabinoid receptors, including the well-characterized CB1 and CB2 receptors… Several findings indicate that the activation of both CB1 and CB2 receptors by natural or synthetic agonists, at non-psychoactive doses, have beneficial effects in Alzheimer experimental models…
Moreover, endocannabinoid signaling has been demonstrated to modulate numerous concomitant pathological processes, including neuroinflammation, excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress.
The present paper summarizes the main experimental studies demonstrating the polyvalent properties of cannabinoid compounds for the treatment of AD, which together encourage progress toward a clinical trial.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24634659
“Considering the numerous complex pathological mechanisms involved in the progression of AD, treatments targeting a single causal or modifying factor offer limited benefit. Cannabinoids, however, exhibit pleiotropic activity, targeting in parallel several processes that play key roles in AD…”
Full: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3942876/
“Prevention of Alzheimer’s disease pathology by cannabinoids: neuroprotection mediated by blockade of microglial activation…Our results indicate that cannabinoid receptors are important in the pathology of AD and that cannabinoids succeed in preventing the neurodegenerative process occurring in the disease.” http://www.jneurosci.org/content/25/8/1904.long
Therapeutic Potential of Cannabinoids in Schizophrenia.
“Increasing evidence suggests a close relationship between the endocannabinoid system and schizophrenia.
The endocannabinoid system comprises of two G protein-coupled receptors (the cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 [CB1 and CB2] for marijuana’s psychoactive principle Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol), their endogenous small lipid ligands (namely anandamide [AEA] and 2-arachidonoylglycerol [2-AG], also known as endocannabinoids), and proteins for endocannabinoid biosynthesis and degradation.
…antipsychotic compounds which manipulate this system may provide a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of schizophrenia.
The present article reviews current available knowledge on herbal, synthetic and endogenous cannabinoids with respect to the modulation of schizophrenic symptomatology.
Furthermore, this review will be highlighting the therapeutic potential of cannabinoid-related compounds and presenting some promising patents targeting potential treatment options for schizophrenia.”
Effects of cannabinoid drugs on the deficit of prepulse inhibition of startle in an animal model of schizophrenia: the SHR strain
“Clinical and neurobiological findings suggest that the cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system may be implicated in the pathophysiology and treatment of schizophrenia.
Our results reinforce the role of the endocannabinoid system in the sensorimotor gating impairment related to schizophrenia, and point to cannabinoid drugs as potential therapeutic strategies.”
The draft genome and transcriptome of Cannabis sativa
“Cannabis sativa has been cultivated throughout human history as a source of fiber, oil and food, and for its medicinal and intoxicating properties.
The availability of the Cannabis sativa genome enables the study of a multifunctional plant that occupies a unique role in human culture. Its availability will aid the development of therapeutic marijuana strains with tailored cannabinoid profiles and provide a basis for the breeding of hemp with improved agronomic characteristics.”
Cannabis (Medical Marijuana) Treatment for Motor and Non-Motor Symptoms of Parkinson Disease: An Open-Label Observational Study.
“The use of cannabis as a therapeutic agent for various medical conditions has been well documented…The aim of the present open-label observational study was to assess the clinical effect of cannabis on motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson disease (PD).
Analysis of specific motor symptoms revealed significant improvement after treatment…
There was also significant improvement of sleep and pain scores. No significant adverse effects of the drug were observed.
The study suggests that cannabis might have a place in the therapeutic armamentarium of PD.”
A drug discovery case history of ‘delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol’.
“…the Cannabis sativa herb has been known for its therapeutic benefit for centuries… interest in the clinical potential of cannabinoid-based drugs escalated after the discovery of the endocannabinoid system… therapeutic applications of cannabinoids (plant-derived or synthetic)… may constitute a useful addition to the pharmacotherapeutic armamentarium in chronic conditions insufficiently alleviated by existing drugs.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22646020
“The endocannabinoid system and its therapeutic exploitation.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15340387
“Cannabinoid receptors as therapeutic targets.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16402900
“Cannabinoids.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16266285
“Plant, synthetic, and endogenous cannabinoids in medicine.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16409166