“There is an increasing medical need for the development of new materials that could replace damaged organs, improve healing of critical wounds or provide the environment required for the formation of a new healthy tissue. The three-dimensional (3D) printing approach has emerged to overcome several of the major deficiencies of tissue engineering. The use of Cannabis sativa as a therapy for some diseases has spread throughout the world thanks to its benefits for patients. In this work, we developed a bioink made with gelatin and alginate that was able to be printed using an extrusion 3D bioprinter. The scaffolds obtained were lyophilized, characterized and the swelling was assessed. In addition, the scaffolds were loaded with Cannabis sativa oil extract. The presence of the extract provided antimicrobial and antioxidant activity to the 3D scaffolds. Altogether, our results suggest that the new biocompatible material printed with 3D technology and with the addition of Cannabis sativa oil could become an attractive alternative to common treatments of soft-tissue infections and wound repair.”
“In summary, herein we show that the new biomaterial loaded with Cannabis sativa oil and printed with 3D technology could be a promising alternative to conventional treatments for wound healing.”
“Opportunities for developing innovative and intelligent drug delivery technologies by targeting the endocannabinoid system are becoming more apparent. This review provides an overview of strategies to develop targeted drug delivery using the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Recent advances in endocannabinoid system targeting showcase enhanced pharmaceutical therapy specificity while minimizing undesirable side effects and overcoming formulation challenges associated with cannabinoids. This review identifies advances in targeted drug delivery technologies that may permit access to the full pharmacotherapeutic potential of the ECS. The design of optimized nanocarriers that target specific tissues can be improved by understanding the nature of the signaling pathways, distribution in the mammalian body, receptor structure, and enzymatic degradation of the ECS. A closer look at ligand-receptor complexes, endocannabinoid tone, tissue distribution, and G-protein activity leads to a better understanding of the potential of the ECS toolkit for therapeutics. The signal transduction pathways examine the modulation of downstream effector proteins, desensitization, signaling cascades, and biased signaling. An in-depth and overall view of the targeted system is achieved through homology modeling where mutagenesis and ligand binding examine the binding site and allow sequence analysis and the formation of libraries for molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations. Internalization routes exploring receptor-mediated endocytosis and lipid rafts are also considered for explicit signaling. Furthermore, the review highlights nanotechnology and surface modification aspects as a possible future approach for specific targeting.”
“Specific targeting of the endocannabinoid system seems to be a good starting point towards developing a sophisticated cannabinoid drug design void of undesirable side effects but the future of commercialized ECS products calls for exploration from a broader perspective. Further study into the complexity of the expanded endocannabinoidome is required to consider the dynamics and interconnections it has with other regulatory systems. As the ECS is interconnected with other lipid-based signaling systems and cannabinomimetic compounds have been identified in a variety of foods, research into the link between diet and the synthesis and release of endocannabinoids and related mediators will do well to guide a better understanding of the endocannabinoidome and epigenetics of the ECS.”
“Introduction: Patients and healthcare practitioners are increasingly interested in using cannabis and cannabinoids to address unmet clinical needs. Although we have clinical evidence on the medical use of cannabinoids, a significant portion of the data is not based on randomized clinical trials, which are considered the gold standard in clinical research. We have reviewed the registered clinical trials on cannabis and cannabinoids for therapeutic or drug development purposes to underline the past and current attempts to generate robust clinical evidence and identify existing knowledge gaps.
Methods: We reviewed four clinical trial registries (International Clinical Trials Registry Program [ICTRP], ClinicalTrials.gov, European Clinical Trial Registry [EUCTR], Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry [ANZCTR]) to identify clinical trials on cannabinoids (phyto- or synthetic) or cannabis-based medications between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2021. All interventional clinical trials on cannabinoids and other compounds interacting with the endocannabinoid system, regardless of the investigated medical condition, assessed health outcomes, or choice of comparator, were included, provided they had a therapeutic or drug development purpose. Data on the primary sponsor, type of sponsor, date of registration, recruitment status, number of participants, study design, the phase of the study, country, medical conditions, investigated cannabinoids, and the route of administration were extracted. The therapeutic area and class of cannabinoids were identified based on the details of each trial.
Results: We included 834 out of 2966 reviewed clinical trials. The number of registered clinical trials has constantly increased from 30 in 2013 to 103 in 2021. More than 40% of registered clinical trials in 2021 were phase II and phase III clinical trials. The mean number of trial enrollments for completed, ongoing, and terminated studies were 128, 156, and 542, respectively. Clinical research on Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and the oral routes of administration dominate the field. Approximately two-thirds of clinical trials were conducted in five therapeutic areas (i.e., ‘Chronic pain,’ ‘Mental, behavioral or neurodevelopmental disorders,’ ‘Nervous system diseases,’ ‘Endocrine, nutritional or metabolic diseases,’ and ‘Neoplasms’). Pharmaceutical companies sponsored 39% of all clinical trials. However, trial sponsorships vary noticeably in different jurisdictions, likely due to, in part, different regulatory frameworks.
Conclusion: Our review highlights the diversification of clinical trials on cannabinoid-based medications in the past 21 years. This review underlines the increased interest in conducting clinical studies on new cannabinoid administration methods such as topical applications and on the investigation of emerging phyto- and synthetic cannabinoids. Moreover, more clinical trials have been designed to explore the potential therapeutic benefits of cannabinoids in areas such as mental, behavioral, or neurodevelopmental disorders and skin diseases. There is a need for granular analyses of clinical trials on more commonly studied therapeutic areas such as chronic pain, nervous system diseases, and mental and behavioral disorders to generate more actionable information and insight for all stakeholders.”
“Background: Interest in industrial hemp is increasing steadily, as can be seen by the growing number of countries that have either decriminalized industrial hemp or are contemplating its decriminalization. In line with this trend, Ghana recently decriminalized the cultivation of industrial hemp (the cannabis variety with low Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and high cannabidiol (CBD) content), resulting in the need for research into its benefits to Ghanaians. This article examines cannabis (including industrial hemp) production, facilities for industrial hemp exploitation, and the potential benefits of industrial hemp in Ghana.
Main body: Indigenous cannabis strains in Ghana have high THC to CBD ratios suggesting the need for the government to purchase foreign hemp seeds, considering that the alternative will require significant research into decreasing the THC to CBD ratio of indigenous cannabis strains. Furthermore, there are several facilities within the country that could be leveraged for the production of medicinal hemp-based drugs, as well as the existence of a number of possible regulatory bodies in the country, suggesting the need for less capital. Research has also shown the potential for treatment of some medical conditions prevalent among Ghanaians using medicinal hemp-based products. These reasons suggest that the most feasible option may be for the government to invest in medicinal hemp.
Conclusion: Considering the challenges associated with the development of other hemp-based products, the availability of resources in the country for exploitation of medicinal hemp, and the potential benefits of hemp-based drugs to Ghanaians, investing in medicinal hemp may be the best option for the government of Ghana.”
“Considering the challenges associated with the development of other hemp-based products, the availability of resources in the country for exploitation of medicinal hemp, and the potential benefits of hemp-based drugs to Ghanaians, investing in medicinal hemp may be the best option for the government of Ghana.”
“This study focuses on obtaining and characterizing novel chitosan-based biomaterials containing cannabis oil to potentially promote wound healing. The primary active substance in cannabis oil is the non-psychoactive cannabidiol, which has many beneficial properties. In this study, three chitosan-based films containing different concentrations of cannabis oil were prepared. As the amount of oil increased, the obtained biomaterials became rougher as tested by atomic force microscopy. Such rough surfaces promote protein adsorption, confirmed by experiments assessing the interaction between human albumin with the obtained materials. Increased oil concentration also improved the films’ mechanical parameters, swelling capacity, and hydrophilic properties, which were checked by the wetting angle measurement. On the other hand, higher oil content resulted in decreased water vapour permeability, which is essential in wound dressing. Furthermore, the prepared films were subjected to an acute toxicity test using a Microtox. Significantly, the film’s increased cannabis oil content enhanced the antimicrobial effect against A. fischeri for films in direct contact with bacteria. More importantly, cell culture studies revealed that the obtained materials are biocompatible and, therefore, they might be potential candidates for application in wound dressing materials.”
“Activation of the endocannabinoid system has various cardiovascular and metabolic expressions, including increased lipogenesis, decreased blood pressure, increased heart rate, and changes in cholesterol levels. There is a scarcity of data on the metabolic effects of exogenous cannabis in older adults; therefore, we aimed to assess the effect of exogenous cannabis on endocannabinoid levels and the association with changes in 24 h ambulatory blood pressure and lipid levels. We conducted a prospective study of patients aged 60 years or more with hypertension treated with a new prescription of herbal cannabis. We assessed changes in endocannabinoids, blood pressure, and metabolic parameters prior to and following three months of cannabis use. Fifteen patients with a mean age of 69.47 ± 5.83 years (53.3% male) underwent complete evaluations. Changes in 2-arachidonoylglycerol, an endocannabinoid, were significantly positively correlated with changes in triglycerides. Changes in arachidonic acid levels were significantly positively correlated with changes in C-reactive protein and with changes in mean diastolic blood pressure. Exogenous consumption of cannabidiol was negatively correlated with endogenous levels of palmitoylethanolamide and oleoylethanolamide. On average, cannabis treatment for 3 months does not result in a significant change in the levels of endogenous cannabinoids and thus has a safe metabolic risk profile.”
“The endocannabinoid system is a complex cell-signaling system that has numerous effects on the human body, including on the heart, blood vessels, and metabolism. In this study, we aimed to assess the effects of exogenous herbal medical cannabis use on the components of the endocannabinoid system among older adults with a diagnosis of hypertension. Medical cannabis is a product containing cannabinoids used for medical purposes. Herbal cannabis contains many types of cannabinoids, the most well-known of which are Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol. We followed people aged 60 years and older and conducted a number of tests, including endocannabinoids levels, before they started using cannabis and following three months of daily cannabis treatment. Fifteen patients (53.3% male; mean age, 69.5 years) underwent complete evaluations. We found positive correlations between the components of the endocannabinoid system and blood lipids, markers of inflammation, and blood pressure. On average, cannabis treatment for 3 months does not result in a significant change in the levels of endogenous cannabinoids and thus has a safe metabolic risk profile. This study provides additional evidence for the safety of medical cannabis use among older adults.”
“The development of new antibiotics is urgently needed to combat the threat of bacterial resistance. New classes of compounds that have novel properties are urgently needed for the development of effective antimicrobial agents.
The extract of Cannabis sativa L. has been used to treat multiple ailments since ancient times. Its bioactivity is largely attributed to the cannabinoids found in its plant. Researchers are currently searching for new anti-infective agents that can treat various infections. Although its phytocannabinoid ingredients have a wide range of medical benefits beyond the treatment of infections, they are primarily associated to psychotropic effects.
Different cannabinoids have been demonstrated to be helpful against harmful bacteria, including Gram-positive bacteria. Moreover, combination therapy involving the use of different antibiotics has shown synergism and broad-spectrum activity. The purpose of this review is to gather current data on the actions of Cannabis sativa (C. sativa) extracts and its primary constituents such as terpenes and cannabinoids towards pathogens in order to determine their antimicrobial properties and cytotoxic effects together with current challenges and future perspectives in biomedical application.”
“C. sativa is a plant with an untapped potential. This versatile plant can be used for various purposes. Given its complex metabolic profile and excessive use as a recreational substance, its therapeutic benefits should not be ignored or overshadowed. Due to the limited effectiveness of antibiotics against MDR bacteria, the use of these drugs can be limited. This is why the discovery of an antimicrobial agent that can be used by plants has been regarded as a great step in the development of anti-infectives [8]. Multiple cannabinoids have been shown to have potent antimicrobial properties against Gram-positive pathogens, such as MRSA. In vitro studies have shown that cannabinoids can be useful in the removal of harmful microbes from the environment. Combination therapy with antibiotics that have different modes of action has shown broad-spectrum activities and synergism. There is also evidence that compounds found in C. sativa can have antimicrobial properties. This suggests that further investigations are needed to understand their potential. As the development of antibiotic resistance continues, cannabinoids have the potential to become a new source of treatment for bacterial infections.”
“Given the increasing interest in bioactive dietary components that can modulate gene expression enhancing human health, three metabolites isolated from hemp seeds-cannabidiolic acid, N–trans-caffeoyltyramine, and cannabisin B-were examined for their ability to change the expression levels of microRNAs in human neural cells. To this end, cultured SH-SY5Y cells were treated with the three compounds and their microRNA content was characterized by next-generation small RNA sequencing. As a result, 31 microRNAs underwent major expression changes, being at least doubled or halved by the treatments. A computational analysis of the biological pathways affected by these microRNAs then showed that some are implicated in neural functions, such as axon guidance, hippocampal signaling, and neurotrophin signaling. Of these, miR-708-5p, miR-181a-5p, miR-190a-5p, miR-199a-5p, and miR-143-3p are known to be involved in Alzheimer’s disease and their expression changes are expected to ameliorate neural function. Overall, these results provide new insights into the mechanism of action of hemp seed metabolites and encourage further studies to gain a better understanding of their biological effects on the central nervous system.”
“Cannabis sativa is widely used as a folk medicine in many parts of the globe and has been reported to be a treasure trove of phytoconstituents, including cannabinoids, terpenoids, and flavonoids.
Accumulating evidence from various pre-clinical and clinical studies revealed the therapeutic potential of these constituents in various pathological conditions, including chronic pain, inflammation, neurological disorders, and cancer.
However, the psychoactive effect and addiction potential associated with cannabis use limited its clinical application. In the past two decades, extensive research on cannabis has led to the resurgence of interest in the clinical application of its constituents, particularly cannabinoids.
This review summarizes the therapeutic effect and molecular mechanism of various phytoconstituents of cannabis. Furthermore, recently developed nanoformulations of cannabis constituents have also been reviewed. Since cannabis is often associated with illicit use, regulatory aspects are of vital importance and this review therefore also documented the regulatory aspects of cannabis use along with clinical data and commercial products of cannabis.”
“Cannabidiol (CBD), an important terpenoid compound from marijuana with no psychoactive effects, has become of great pharmaceutical interest for several health conditions. As CBD is a multitarget drug, there is a need to establish the molecular mechanisms by which CBD may exert therapeutic as well as adverse effects. The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) is a cation-permeable ACh-gated channel present in the nervous system and in non-neuronal cells. It is involved in different pathological conditions, including neurological and neurodegenerative disorders, inflammation, and cancer. By high-resolution single-channel recordings and confocal microscopy, we here reveal how CBD modulates α7 nAChR ionotropic and metabotropic functions. CBD leads to a profound concentration-dependent decrease of α7 nAChR single-channel activity with an IC50 in the sub-micromolar range. The inhibition of α7 nAChR activity, which takes place through a membrane pathway, is neither mediated by receptor phosphorylation nor overcome by positive allosteric modulators and is compatible with CBD stabilization of resting or desensitized α7 nAChR conformational states. CBD modulation is complex as it also leads to the later appearance of atypical, low-frequency α7 nAChR channel openings. At the cellular level, CBD inhibits the increase in intracellular calcium triggered by α7 nAChR activation, thus decreasing cell calcium responses. The modulation of α7 nAChR is of pharmacological relevance and should be considered in the evaluation of CBD potential therapeutic uses. Thus, our study provides novel molecular information of CBD multiple actions and targets, which is required to set the basis for prospective applications in human health.”
