“All through time, humans have used smoke of medicinal plants to cure illness.

To the best of our knowledge, the ethnopharmacological aspects of natural products’ smoke for therapy and health care have not been studied. Mono- and multi-ingredient herbal and non-herbal remedies administered as smoke from 50 countries across the 5 continents are reviewed. Most of the 265 plant species of mono-ingredient remedies studied belong to Asteraceae (10.6%), followed by Solanaceae (10.2%), Fabaceae (9.8%) and Apiaceae (5.3%).

The most frequent medical indications for medicinal smoke are pulmonary (23.5%), neurological (21.8%) and dermatological (8.1%).

Other uses of smoke are not exactly medical but beneficial to health, and include smoke as a preservative or a repellent and the social use of smoke.

The three main methods for administering smoke are inhalation, which accounts for 71.5% of the indications; smoke directed at a specific organ or body part, which accounts for 24.5%; ambient smoke (passive smoking), which makes up the remaining 4.0%.

Whereas inhalation is typically used in the treatment of pulmonary and neurological disorders and directed smoke in localized situations, such as dermatological and genito-urinary disorders, ambient smoke is not directed at the body at all but used as an air purifier.

The advantages of smoke-based remedies are rapid delivery to the brain, more efficient absorption by the body and lower costs of production.

This review highlights the fact that not enough is known about medicinal smoke and that a lot of natural products have potential for use as medicine in the smoke form. Furthermore, this review argues in favor of medicinal smoke extended use in modern medicine as a form of drug delivery and as a promising source of new active natural ingredients.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17030480

“From time immemorial, human beings have used smoke of medicinal plants to lead a healthy life.”

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874106004314?via%3Dihub

“We examined the effect of hemp extract on the activity of the antioxidant system (catalase, peroxidase, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and total antioxidant capacity) in the hemolymph of adult honey bees (Apis mellifera).

The bees were divided into three groups: (1) an experimental group fed with pure sugar syrup with cotton strips soaked with hemp extract put inside the cage; (2) an experimental group fed with a mixture of sugar syrup with hemp extract; and (3) a control group fed with a mixture of sugar and a water-glycerine solution. Hemolymph samples were collected on the 1st day of this study and then every week, until all bees in the group died.

The activities of all antioxidant enzymes were higher for the experimental groups, compared to those for the control group. The highest antioxidant activities were noted in the group supplemented with cannabis with the use of syringes. Supplementation with hemp also increased the lifespan of bees in this group compared to that of the bees consuming only sugar syrup (control: 35 days), with 49 and 52 days for groups of cannabis on strips and in syrup, respectively.

Hemp extract, thanks to its antioxidant properties, increased the activities of key antioxidant enzymes that protect the bee’s organisms against free radicals and thus delay the aging processes.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35453392

“The aim of our research was to determine the effect of hemp extract on the activities of enzymes in the antioxidant system in bees’ hemolymph, along with the aging processes.”

“Hemp extract significantly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, extending the life of bees to 49 days (for the strip method) and 56 days (for the syringe method). In addition, we showed that a faster and stronger effect was obtained during supplementation in syrup in syringes, where the activities for the enzymes SOD, CAT, GPx, GST, and TAC were the highest.

Thanks to this, we believe that hemp extract can in the future contribute to the improvement of the natural immunity of honey bees and help them with the fight against environmental pollution and the increase of oxidative stress.”

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/11/4/707

“In the experiment, we tested the effect of 30% CBD oil on the activity of the antioxidant system (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione), the level of total antioxidant capacity, and the concentrations of ions (calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus) in honeybee workers in the hive test.

For this purpose, we prepared hives containing all stages of the development of honey bees and started the experiment by adding 200 marked, one-day old bees to each colony (intended for hemolymph collection). In the test, we created three groups (two colonies per group): (1) Experimental with CBD oil mixed with sugar syrup (CSy); (2) experimental with CBD oil on textile strips (CSt); and (3) control with pure sugar syrup only (C). Every week, we collected hemolymph from the marked bees.

In the experiment, all antioxidant enzyme activities were higher for the experimental groups CSy and CSt compared to group C. The highest concentrations/levels were obtained for the CSy group. Concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus ions were also higher for the experimental groups compared to the C group (the highest concentration for the CSy group).

We conclude that CBD oil positively contributes to stimulating the antioxidant system of honeybees.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36829838

“Our previous studies have shown that CBD oil/hemp extracts added to the diet of bees prolonged the life of insects and contributed to a positive stimulation of the immune system”

“The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a commercial hemp extract in the form of CBD oil on the activity of the antioxidant system”

“After a series of studies in cages and in colony conditions, we found that supplementation with CBD will potentially support the immune system of honeybees through stimulating the antioxidant system (protection against oxidative stress affecting cells and their biochemistry).

Depending on the need, the effects can be obtained regardless of the method of administration, but for the best results, we suggest using CBD in nutritional supplements (direct, faster action). In addition, research confirms that the active substance CBD may be responsible for the positive effect of the hemp extract.”

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/12/2/279

“We examined how CBD extract influences the activity of the immune system in the hemolymph of honey bees in the hive test. The bees were divided into 3 groups: (CSy) bees fed with CBD in sugar syrup with glycerin; (CSt) cotton strip with CBD placed in hive bees fed pure sugar syrup, (C) control bees fed sugar syrup with glycerin.

CBD extract increased the total protein concentrations, proteases and their inhibitor activities in each age (the except for acidic protease activities in the 21st and 28th day and alkaline protease inhibitor activities in the 28th day in CSt group) in comparison with group C. In the groups with the extract there was also an increase in the enzymatic marker activities: ALP, AST (decrease on day 28 for CSt), ALT; and non-enzymatic marker concentrations: glucose; triglycerides; cholesterol and creatinine. The urea acid and albumin concentrations were lower in CSy and CSt groups compared to the C group (higher concentration of albumin was displayed by control bees). Higher activities/concentrations of most of biochemical parameters were obtained in the CSy compared to the CSt and C.

CBD supplementation can positively influence workers’ immune system.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36139174

“The purpose of our study was to determine how CBD extract influences resistance in the hemolymph (insect blood) of honey bees in the hive test. The bees were divided into 3 groups: (CSy) bees fed with CBD in sugar syrup; (CSt) cotton strip with CBD placed in hive, (C) control bees fed sugar syrup. To determine the state of immunity, we used the analysis of the activity of the proteolytic system and biochemical markers, such as “liver tests”, and the concentration of selected ions and key compounds for the functioning of the organism.

CBD extract increased the total protein concentration, proteases and their inhibitor activities in each age (except for acidic protease activities in the 21st and 28th day and alkaline protease inhibitor activities in the 28th day in the CSt group), increased concentrations of markers: ALP, AST, ALT; and glucose; triglycerides; cholesterol and creatinine. A decrease in concentration in experimental groups was noticed for urea acid and albumin compared to group C. Higher activities/concentrations of most of parameters were obtained in the CSy compared to the CSt and C.

The CBD supplementation can positively influence bees’ resistance.”

“CBD extract may prove to be a good supplement and can have positive effect on the immune system of honeybees by stimulating the proteolytic system and other metabolic parameters.”

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/18/2313

“Muscle atrophy induced by prolonged inactivity (disuse), including denervation-induced atrophy, is accompanied by oxidative stress, inflammation, and dysregulated protein turnover, yet no effective pharmacological therapy is currently available.

Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid derived from Cannabis sativa, has been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties; however, its potential involvement in disuse-related muscle atrophy has not been fully characterized.

In this study, to evaluate the potential effects of CBD on disuse-related muscle atrophy, we employed both in vivo and in vitro models. A mouse model of sciatic nerve resection-induced muscle atrophy was used for the in vivo experiments, while C2C12 myotubes were utilized for the in vitro analyses.

In the denervated mouse model, CBD attenuated the decrease in muscle mass in the tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscles, as well as the decline in treadmill running performance. CBD also reduced oxidative stress and suppressed the denervation-induced upregulation of Atrogin-1 and muscle RING-finger 1 (MuRF1) proteins, as well as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA.

Furthermore, CBD partially restored the decreased mitochondrial markers observed following denervation. In vitro, CBD similarly suppressed MuRF1 and Atrogin-1 protein levels and TNF-α mRNA expression in C2C12 myotubes.

These findings suggest that CBD is associated with protective effects against disuse-related muscle atrophy, accompanied by reductions in oxidative stress markers, alterations in proteolytic pathways, and changes in mitochondrial-related markers.

This study highlights a previously underexplored biological effect of a natural phytocannabinoid and supports further investigation of CBD as a potential supportive strategy for disuse-related muscle wasting.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42161484

https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bpb/49/5/49_b26-00020/_article

“Replacing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) remains a sustainability challenge because few bio-based materials match PET’s combination of low cost, high glass transition temperature (T_g), and stretch processability needed for industrial film, packaging, and bottle production.

Since PET is produced on a massive scale, multiple polymers from different renewable feedstocks will likely be necessary to significantly cut emissions linked to the global PET market. Polyethylene furanoate (PEF) is a promising alternative with similar properties, but its monomers come from food-derived sugars, connecting production to food crop supply chains and land use while requiring several chemical conversion steps that add to carbon emissions. Therefore, finding additional alternatives from non-food feedstocks is important for diversifying renewable supply options.

Here, we introduce polycannabidiol carbonate (pCBDC), a 92% bio-based thermoplastic synthesized from cannabidiol (CBD) extracted from hemp biomass, serving as a non-food, renewable, PET-like engineering plastic. pCBDC exhibits high molecular weight, high T_g, excellent stretch processability, and high strength. We also establish processing-structure-property relationships that offer guidelines for future industrial manufacturing.”

“This work demonstrates that CBD, a non-food aromatic compound extracted from hemp, can be used directly as a monomer without chemical modification to create a polymer with PET-like T_g, mechanical strength, and processability, providing a complementary pathway to PEF to reduce emissions from PET-scale materials.”

“This work presents pCBDC as a bio-based thermoplastic derived from hemp-based CBD, emphasizing its potential as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based engineering polymers.”

“These results position pCBDC as a potential alternative to PET, polystyrene (PS), and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA).”

https://www.cell.com/chem-circularity/fulltext/S3051-2948(26)00014-9