“1,8-naphthyridine-3-carboxamide structures were previously identified as a promising scaffold from which to obtain CB2R agonists with anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity. This work describes the synthesis and functional characterization of new 1,8-naphthyridin-2(1H)-one-3-carboxamides with high affinity and selectivity for CB2R. The new compounds were able to pharmacologically modulate the cAMP response without modulating CB2R-dependent β-arrestin2 recruitment. These structures were also evaluated for their anti-cancer activity against SH-SY5Y and SK-N-BE cells. They were able to reduce the cell viability of both neuroblastoma cancer cell lines with micromolar potency (IC50 of FG158a = 11.8 μM and FG160a = 13.2 μM in SH-SY5Y cells) by a CB2R-mediated mechanism. Finally, in SH-SY5Y cells one of the newly synthesized compounds, FG158a, was able to modulate ERK1/2 expression by a CB2R-mediated effect, thus suggesting that this signaling pathway might be involved in its potential anti-cancer effect.”
“Neoplastic diseases in children are the second most frequent cause of death among the young. It is estimated that 400,000 children worldwide will be diagnosed with cancer each year. The nutritional status at diagnosis is a prognostic indicator and influences the treatment tolerance. Both malnutrition and obesity increase the risk of mortality and complications during treatment. It is necessary to constantly search for new factors that impair the nutritional status.
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a signaling system whose best-known function is regulating energy balance and food intake, but it also plays a role in pain control, embryogenesis, neurogenesis, learning, and the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism. Its action is multidirectional, and its role is being discovered in an increasing number of diseases.
In adults, cannabinoids have been shown to have anti-cancer properties against breast and pancreatic cancer, melanoma, lymphoma, and brain tumors. Data on the importance of both the endocannabinoid system and synthetic cannabinoids are lacking in children with cancer.
This review highlights the role of nutritional status in the oncological treatment process, and describes the role of ECS and gastrointestinal peptides in regulating appetite. We also point to the need for research to evaluate the role of the endocannabinoid system in children with cancer, together with a prospective assessment of nutritional status during oncological treatment.”
“Gulf War Illness (GWI) corresponds to an array of symptoms that includes chronic fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, cognitive dysfunction, sleep disturbance, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and dermatological symptoms that affect ~250,000 U.S. military veterans that served in Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield (1990-1991). Mitochondrial function impairments have been shown in GWI patients. GWI patients report partial amelioration of chronic fatigue and brain fog after medicinal marijuana and CBD oils. Interestingly, cannabidiol (CBD) modulates mitochondrial physiology though this has not been characterized in detail. We hypothesize that GWI mitochondrial pathology can be recapitulated in dermal fibroblasts (DF) from subjects to help define and develop a cell-based model to study GWI and CBD treatment of DF promotes energy production by improving mitochondrial physiology. GWI patients (gender/age matched to healthy controls) were recruited to collect skin punch biopsy explants that were processed and cultured in DMEM FBS 10% for 30-days to obtain dermal fibroblasts. DF were treated with serial dilutions of Verséa™ CBD (50mg/mL) lipid formulation (VESIsorb® that increases 4.4-fold Cmax ). Using real time mitochondrial analysis by Seahorse, energy phenotype and mitochondrial function was analyzed in control and GWI DF. Mitochondrial networks and ultrastructure were studied by live-imaging using MitoTracker™ and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. Energy phenotype studies suggest that GWI DF present with lower mitochondrial metabolism and higher glycolytic activity, compared with controls. Additionally, mitochondrial stress suggests a significant reduction in mitochondrial maximal capacity. Such data establish GWI derived DF as a personalized model system to study mitochondrial pathology in GWI. After 18h treatment with Verséa™ CBD, GWI DF show a significant improvement in mitochondrial and glycolytic metabolism; control patients show no increases in mitochondrial metabolism but improved glycolysis. Verséa™ CBD treatment induced mitochondrial networks re-organization in DF. These findings suggest that CBD improves GWI DF mitochondrial physiology, thus improving energy homeostasis. Our data provide new evidence that will validate the potential of cannabinoids as a therapeutic strategy to mitigate energy imbalance that may contribute to detrimental symptomatology (i.e., chronic fatigue, brain fog, cognitive dysfunction, etc.) in GWI patients.”
“Medical Cannabis and its major cannabinoids (-)-trans-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are gaining momentum for various medical purposes as their therapeutic qualities are becoming better established. However, studies regarding their efficacy are oftentimes inconclusive. This is chiefly because Cannabis is a versatile plant rather than a single drug and its effects do not depend only on the amount of THC and CBD. Hundreds of Cannabis cultivars and hybrids exist worldwide, each with a unique and distinct chemical profile. Most studies focus on THC and CBD, but these are just two of over 140 phytocannabinoids found in the plant in addition to a milieu of terpenoids, flavonoids and other compounds with potential therapeutic activities. Different plants contain a very different array of these metabolites in varying relative ratios, and it is the interplay between these molecules from the plant and the endocannabinoid system in the body that determines the ultimate therapeutic response and associated adverse effects. Here, we discuss how phytocannabinoid profiles differ between plants depending on the chemovar types, review the major factors that affect secondary metabolite accumulation in the plant including the genotype, growth conditions, processing, storage and the delivery route; and highlight how these factors make Cannabis treatment highly complex.”
“The use of medical Cannabis is ever increasing in the treatment of numerous conditions as it has been proven to be both effective and safe, but the Cannabis plant contains more than 500 different components, each with potential therapeutic qualities. The components of Cannabis act together, hitting several targets at once and mutually enhancing each other’s activity so that the overall outcome is greater than that of their additive effect.
Cannabis can treat a multitude of very different conditions as it exerts its effects via the ECS, which is involved in many physiological processes. Cannabis treatment can be personalized to both the condition and the person to improve treatment outcomes while also reducing the drug load and minimizing the adverse effects. “
“Cannabinoids have been extensively studied in the field of cancer research. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has shown promising results in influencing cellular proliferation when in association with other cannabinoids. This traditional entourage effect solely focuses on the study of THC with other cannabinoids. However, not many studies have been done to explore the synergistic effect of THC analogs when used with non-cannabinoid compounds. THC in its isolate form for experimentation is very strictly regulated. Therefore, this study was conducted in the pursuit of synthesizing and experimenting with analogs of THC to observe a potential entourage effect with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a compound known for its efficacy to reduce proliferation at higher concentrations in UMR cells. It was hypothesized that active analogs of THC can be synthesized and used in concert with EGCG to potentiate decreased proliferation in the bone-like cancer cell line UMR 106-01 BSP (UMR cells). Briefly, a Knoevenagel condensation and a Diels-Alder reaction using 1,3-cyclohexanediol dissolved in methanol (MeOH) and citronellal with ethylenediamine diacetic acid (EDDA) at a temperature of 60℃ was used to synthesize a novel THC analog, 3,10,10-Trimethyl-1,2,3,4,4a,6,7,8,10,10a-decahydro-9-oxa-5-phenanthrenone (TDP). UMR cells were routinely passaged, counted, plated in six-well culture plates at 480,00 cells/mL, then treated with 10-fold dilutions of TDP. The plates were incubated for 72 hours in a humidified incubator at 37 degrees Celsius with 5% carbon dioxide infusion. At the end of the experiment, the cells were routinely washed with HANKS buffered saline solution (HBSS), then routinely counted using the Luna Automated Cell Counter. In another experiment, designated cells were co-treated with TDP+EGCG, following the protocol above. F test ANOVA was used to compare variances and all values in the results were expressed as means ± SD. The results from the attempted cannabinoid analog synthesis yielded a novel active THC analog, TDP. Serial dilutions treatment of the UMR cells with TDP alone showed its ability to decrease cell count in a concentration dependent manner. However, when coupled with higher concentrations of EGCG, the co-treatment increased cell count rather than potentiating the effect of decreasing cellular proliferation. The F Test ANOVA showed robust statistical significance (p values <0.05) with regard to TDP’s effect of decreasing cell proliferation in UMR cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Overall, the outcomes of this study suggest that active forms of THC analogs can be synthesized and tested in concert with other non-cannabinoid compounds like EGCG. This study opens the door to explore the entourage effect of TDP with other non-cannabinoid compounds that may provide another tool in the therapeutic treatment of bone cancer cells.”
“Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by the progressive death of motor neurons. Cannabidiol, the second most prevalent cannabinoid in the Cannabis sativa plant, is a potential therapeutic tool for ALS due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-spasticity effects, as well as its complementary role in treating other neurodegenerative diseases. In SOD1-G93A murine ALS models, cannabinoids have been shown to slow disease progression, extending lifespan and increasing motor function. However, the effects of specific cannabinoids-including cannabidiol-are yet undefined and their functions slowing disease progression are unknown. To advance this understanding we aim to study the effects of cannabidiol treatment in a Caenorhabditis elegans ALS model: a SOD-1 mutant transgenic strain with SOD-1 aggregation in muscular cells. We will use a death assay to measure the lifespan of SOD-1 mutant C. elegans and cannabidiol-treated SOD-1 mutant C. elegans to investigate whether treatment with cannabidiol impacts the lifespan of SOD-1 mutants. To assess mechanosensation, we will touch C. elegans with sutures of various sizes, based on the Von Frey filaments touch response assay in humans. We will develop a novel computational analysis system to measure C. elegans movement in response to touch. We will then compare the motor response of the SOD-1 mutant transgenic strain to wild type and study if cannabidiol modulates a possible change in motor response. This study will evaluate the functions of cannabidiol as a potential therapeutic tool in ALS using a SOD-1 mutant C. elegans model.”
“Cannabigerol (CBG) is a cannabinoid compound that is synthesized from Cannabis sativa L. and acts as a substrate for both Δ9-tetraydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) formation. Given that it does not exhibit psychoactive effects, emerging research has focused on CBG as a potential therapeutic for health conditions including algesia, epilepsy, anxiety, and cancer. While CBG can bind to cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, it has also been described as an agonist at α2-adrenoreceptors (A2-AR), which when activated inhibit the release of norepinephrine from α-adrenergic neurons. This raises the concern that CBG could act at A2-AR to reduce norepinephrine release to cardiovascular end organs, such as the heart and kidneys, causing a reduction in blood pressure. Despite this possibility, there are no reports examining cardiovascular effects of CBG. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that acute CBG administration can lower blood pressure. To test this, six male C57BL/6J mice underwent surgery at 8-10 weeks of age to implant a radiotelemetry probe, which allows for continuous measurement of blood pressure, heart rate and locomotor activity in conscious, freely moving mice. Following 10 days of recovery, baseline measurements were obtained and then mice were randomized to receive intraperitoneal injections of CBG (3.3, 5.6, and 10 mg/kg) and vehicle in a crossover design, with at least one-week washout between treatments. Changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and locomotor activity were measured for two hours post-injection. We found that acute CBG significantly lowered blood pressure compared with vehicle (-12±5 mmHg vehicle vs. -28±2 mmHg at 10 mg/kg CBG; p=0.018), with no apparent dose responsiveness at the doses used in this study (-22±2 mmHg at 3.3 mg/kg CBG; -28±4 at 5.6 mg/kg CBG). The greatest blood pressure reduction was seen at 90-minutes post-CBG administration, which is consistent with reports for peak plasma concentrations of this compound in rodents. The blood pressure lowering effects of CBG occurred in the absence of changes in heart rate or locomotor activity. These overall findings suggest acute CBG may lower blood pressure in phenotypically normal young adult male mice, which may provide caution for the potential of hypotension as an adverse effect of CBG administration. Additional studies are needed to determine if the blood pressure lowering effects of CBG are via an A2-AR mechanism.”
“The antinociceptive effects of major cannabinoids such as ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) have been extensively studied in rats. These studies have led to formulations of THC and CBD for human use; however, humans use different strains of Cannabis that contain several hundred different compounds. The contribution of these compounds to pain relief produced by Cannabis is unclear. ß-caryophyllene (BCP) is one compound found in the essential oils of Cannabis. Despite some early studies, the extent to which these compounds produce pain relief in assays of pain-evoked behaviors (i.e., von Frey and Hargreaves tests) and pain-depressed behaviors (i.e., home cage wheel running) is unclear. We hypothesized that BCP would inhibit mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia as well as restore depressed wheel running activity in male Sprague-Dawley rats with inflammatory pain. Three different doses of BCP (10, 30, and 100 mg/kg) or vehicle were administered to rats via an intraperitoneal injection after hindpaw inflammation induced by an intraplantar injection of Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA). Neither the low dose (10 mg/kg) nor the medium dose (30 mg/kg) of BCP reversed mechanical allodynia of the inflamed hindpaw after intraperitoneal injection. However, a high dose of BCP (100 mg/kg) reversed mechanical allodynia on the von Frey test; however, this dose did not reverse thermal hyperalgesia. A hindpaw injection of 0.1 mL CFA decreased wheel running activity as is consistent with a painful stimulus. However, neither 30 mg/kg BCP nor 100 mg/kg BCP restored pain-depressed wheel running in injured rats. These same doses of BCP did not affect wheel running in uninjured control rats. Therefore, a high dose BCP produces pain relief, although it only does so against mechanical allodynia. BCP does not restore normal activity. This suggests that although pain may be eliminated following BCP administration, a return to normal levels of activity may not be possible which raises questions about the utility of BCP to treat pain. Future studies of the pain-relieving effects of Cannabis constituents must include tests of many pain-related behaviors to understand dose-response relationships and their therapeutic potential.”
“Addictions are a group of chronic and recurrent diseases of the brain characterized by a pathological search for reward or relief through the use of a substance or other action. This situation implies an inability to control behavior, difficulty in permanent abstinence, a compelling desire to consume, decreased recognition of significant problems caused by behavior and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response. The result is a decrease in the quality of life of the affected person, generating problems in their work, academic activities, social relationships, or family or partner relationships. Unfortunately, there are not enough pharmacotherapeutic solutions to treat addictions due to the complexity of their physiopathology and signaling pathways. Therefore, it is an imperative search for new pharmacological alternatives which may be used for this purpose.
This review summarizes the main recent findings of the potential therapeutic effects of different cannabinoids on treating several addictions, including alcohol, opioids, methamphetamine, cocaine, and nicotine use disorders.
Highlights Standpoints: It has been demonstrated that many phyto, synthetic, and endogenous cannabinoids may act as therapeutic molecules in this psychiatric pathology through their action on multiple cannabinoid receptors. To highlight, cannabinoid receptors, types 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2) have a crucial role in modulating the anti-addictive properties of these compounds.”
“Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States and affects approximately 85% of people ages 12-24. As a multifactorial disease, the pathogenesis of acne involves overproduction of sebum, irregular shedding of the cutaneous cells, accretion of Cutibacterium acnes at the pilosebaceous unit, and inflammation. To date, conventional therapies for acne include topical retinoids, over-the-counter bactericidal agents, and systematic treatments, such as oral antibiotics and isotretinoin. However, the potential for significant side effects and risk of antibiotic resistance remain limitations in these therapies, in turn reducing patient compliance and adherence to acne treatment regimens. Therefore, the use of natural plant-derived treatments or phytotherapeutics as an alternative or adjuvant to conventional treatments is attractive to patients due to their safety and minimal risk for side effects. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid of the Cannabis sativa (hemp) plant. The therapeutic use of CBD has been implicated in many diseases with an inflammatory aspect, including cancers, neurodegeneration, immunological disorders, and dermatological diseases. However, the use of CBD for acne treatment remains a novel window of opportunity. Herein, we summarize the available and relevant data, highlighting the potential use of CBD in acne for its anti-inflammatory properties. To that extent, CBD and other cannabis constituents such as cannabis seeds were found to reduce inflammation and expression of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α and IL-1β when evaluated in acne-like conditions. Treatment with these cannabis extracts was also found to be safe and well tolerated, further strengthening the prospect of CBD as an anti-inflammatory therapeutic for acne.”
