Category Archives: Uncategorized

The effects of cannabidiol against Methotrexate-induced lung damage

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“Methotrexate (MTX) is a widely used medication for various cancers, yet its use is associated with adverse effects on organs, notably the lungs.

Cannabidiol (CBD), known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, was investigated for its potential protective effects against MTX-induced lung injury.

Thirty-two female Wistar Albino rats were divided into four groups: control, MTX (single 20 mg/kg intraperitoneal dose), MTX + CBD (single 20 mg/kg MTX with 0.1 ml of 5 mg/kg CBD for 7 days intraperitoneally) and CBD only (for 7 days). Lung tissues were analysed using histopathological, immunohistochemical and PCR methods after the study. Histopathological assessment of the MTX group revealed lung lesions like hyperemia, edema, inflammatory cell infiltration and epithelial cell loss. Immunohistochemical examination showed significant increases in Cas-3, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) expressions. PCR analysis indicated elevated expressions of apoptotic peptidase activating factor 1 (Apaf 1), glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP 78), CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) and cytochrome C (Cyt C), along with reduced B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL 2) expressions in the MTX group, though not statistically significant.

Remarkably, CBD treatment reversed these findings.

This study highlights CBD’s potential in mitigating MTX-induced lung damage, suggesting its therapeutic promise.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38388876/

“The findings from this study underscore the remarkable effectiveness of CBD in preventing histopathological damage within the lungs induced by MTX. The marked reduction observed in hyperemia, edema and infiltration, coupled with its notable reparative effects on epithelial loss, highlights the multifaceted benefits of CBD in mitigating pulmonary issues of MTX. Importantly, the statistical analysis revealed a significant improvement across all histopathological scoring parameters (p < 0.001). This reinforces the potential of CBD as a promising therapeutic agent for MTX-induced lung lesions and warrants further exploration in clinical settings. This study has demonstrated for the first time the reparative effects of CBD on the pathological findings induced by MTX in the lungs. There is now a need for novel and comprehensive research on the therapeutic utilization of CBD for this purpose.”

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bcpt.13992

Anthelmintic Effect of Cannabidiol against Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto

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“Cystic echinococcosis is a global parasitic zoonosis caused by infection with the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato. Cystic echinococcosis affects more than 1 million people worldwide, causing important economic costs in terms of management and livestock associated losses. Albendazole is the main drug used in treating human cystic echinococcosis. In spite of this, its low aqueous solubility, poor absorption, and consequently erratic bioavailability are the cause of its chemotherapeutic failures. Based on the described problem, new treatment alternatives urgently need to be developed.

The aim of the present research was to study the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of cannabidiol (CBD), the second most abundant component of the Cannabis sativa plant, was demonstrated against E. granulosus sensu stricto. CBD (50 µg/mL) caused a decrease in protoscoleces viability of 80 % after 24 h of treatment which was consistent with the observed tegumental alterations. Detachment of the germinal layer was observed in 50 ± 10% of cysts treated with 50 µg/mL of CBD during 24 h. In the clinical efficacy study, all treatments reduced the weight of cysts recovered from mice compared with the control group. However, this reduction was only significant with ABZ suspension and the CBD + ABZ combination.

As we could observe by the SEM study, the co-administration of CBD with ABZ suspension caused greater ultrastructural alteration of the germinal layer in comparison with that provoked with the monotherapy. Further in vivo research will be conducted by changing the dose and frequency of CBD and CBD + ABZ treatments and new available CBD delivery systems will also be assayed to improve bioavailability in vivo.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38393124/

https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/9/2/35

Therapeutic Potential of Cannabinoid Profiles Identified in Cannabis L. Crops in Peru

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“Cannabis is a plant that is cultivated worldwide, and its use is internationally regulated, but some countries have been regulating its medicinal, social, and industrial uses. This plant must have arrived in Peru during the Spanish conquest and remains widely cultivated illicitly or informally to this day. However, new regulations are currently being proposed to allow its legal commercialization for medicinal purposes.

Cannabis contains specific metabolites known as cannabinoids, some of which have clinically demonstrated therapeutic effects. It is now possible to quantitatively measure the presence of these cannabinoids in dried inflorescences, thus allowing for description of the chemical profile or “chemotype” of cannabinoids in each sample.

This study analyzed the chemotypes of eight samples of dried inflorescences from cannabis cultivars in four different regions of Peru, and based on the significant variation in the cannabinoid profiles, we suggest their therapeutic potential.

The most important medical areas in which they could be used include the following: they can help manage chronic pain, they have antiemetic, anti-inflammatory, and antipruritic properties, are beneficial in treating duodenal ulcers, can be used in bronchodilators, in muscle relaxants, and in treating refractory epilepsy, have anxiolytic properties, reduce sebum, are effective on Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, are proapoptotic in breast cancer, can be used to treat addiction and psychosis, and are effective on MRSA, in controlling psoriasis, and in treating glioblastoma, according to the properties of their concentrations of cannabidiol, cannabigerol, and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, as reviewed in the literature. On the other hand, having obtained concentrations of THC, we were able to suggest the psychotropic capacity of said samples, one of which even fits within the legal category of “non-psychoactive cannabis” according to Peruvian regulations.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38397908/

https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/2/306

Anti-inflammatory effects of cannabidiol in early stages of neuroinflammation induced by high-fat diet in cerebral cortex of rats

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“High-fat diet (HFD) contributes to neuroinflammation forming, hence it is crucial to find safe and effective substances that are able to counteract its progress. The anti-inflammatory properties of phytocannabinoids acquired from the Cannabis plant have been widely acknowledged. We evaluated the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) treatment on induced by applying HFD early stages of neuroinflammation in Wistar rat cerebral cortex.

In our 7-week experiment, CBD was injected intraperitoneally over the last 14days at a dose of 10 mg/kg of body weight once a day. The level of arachidonic acid, a precursor to pro-inflammatory eicosanoids, decreased in all analysed lipid classes after CBD administration to the HFD group. Moreover, the extent of diminishing the activity of the omega-6 (n-6) fatty acid pathway by CBD was the greatest in diacylglycerols and phospholipids. Surprisingly, CBD was also capable of downregulating the activity of the omega-3 (n-3) pathway. The expression of enzymes involved in the synthesis of the eicosanoids was significantly increased in the HFD group and subsequently lowered by CBD. Significant changes in various cytokines levels were also discovered.

Our results strongly suggest the ability of CBD to reduce the formation of lipid inflammation precursors in rat cerebral cortex, as a primary event in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. This can raise hopes for the future use of this cannabinoid for therapeutic purposes since it is a substance lacking lasting and severe side effects.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38336253/

“To summarize all of the above evidence, the CBD action suggests, that it could hold a great potential for possibly alleviating the inflammatory response by interfering with the eicosanoid synthesis process. As a compound with a fairly simple chemical structure and lipophilic qualities, it has a high ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, which is an obstacle that many other pharmaceuticals, whose targets are located within the brain, cannot overcome.”

“Even though the Cannabis plant has been present in the history of humankind for hundreds of years, we ought not to stop looking for new potential applications of its constituents, especially in the clinical medicine of the future, which in the first place should be safe and effective.”

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0041008X24000541?via%3Dihub

Cannabidiol improves memory and decreases IL-1β serum levels in rats with lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation

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“Memory improving and anti-inflammatory properties of cannabidiol (CBD) were investigated in an experimental model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38351784/

“Cannabis sativa is a plant that has been cultivated by humans and utilized in medicine since ancient times.”

“Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the most important Cannabis-derived molecules,”

“CBD improved spatial working and recognition memory in rats with LPS-induced inflammation. Suppression of IL-1β production could be attributed to the observed effect.”

https://foliamedica.bg/article/107259/

Removing barriers to accessing medical cannabis for paediatric patients

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“Medical cannabis (MC) may offer therapeutic benefits for children with complex neurological conditions and chronic diseases. In Canada, parents, and caregivers frequently report encountering barriers when accessing MC for their children. These include negative preconceived notions about risks and benefits, challenges connecting with a knowledgeable healthcare provider (HCP), the high cost of MC products, and navigating MC product shortages. In this manuscript, we explore several of these barriers and provide recommendations to decision-makers to enable a family-centered and evidence-based approach to MC medicine and research for children.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38332979/

https://academic.oup.com/pch/article/29/1/12/7098192?login=false

The Therapeutic Potential and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Neuroprotective Effects of Sativex® – A Cannabis-derived Spray

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“Sativex is a cannabis-based medicine that comes in the form of an oromucosal spray. It contains equal amounts of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, two compounds derived from cannabis plants.

Sativex has been shown to have positive effects on symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), and sleep disorders. It also has analgesic, antiinflammatory, antitumoral, and neuroprotective properties, which make it a potential treatment option for other neurological disorders.

The article reviews the results of recent preclinical and clinical studies that support the therapeutic potential of Sativex and the molecular mechanisms behind its neuroprotective benefits in various neurological disorders. The article also discusses the possible advantages and disadvantages of using Sativex as a neurotherapeutic agent, such as its safety, efficacy, availability, and legal status.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38318827/

https://www.eurekaselect.com/article/138318

Topical Noneuphoric Phytocannabinoid Elixir 14 Reduces Inflammation and Mitigates Burn Progression

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“Introduction: Thermal injuries are caused by exposure to a wide variety of agents including heat, electricity, radiation, chemicals, and friction. Early intervention can decrease injury severity by preventing excess inflammation and mitigating burn wound progression for improved healing outcomes.

Previous studies have demonstrated that cannabinoids can trigger anti-inflammatory responses and promote wound closure.

Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether a topical application of Noneuphoric Phytocannabinoid Elixir 14 (NEPE14) containing a full complement of phytocannabinoids (< 0.3% delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or cannabidiol) and other phytochemicals would mitigate burn wound progression in the treatment of deep partial-thickness burn wounds.

Methods: Deep partial-thickness burns were created on the dorsum of four anesthetized pigs and treated with NEPE14, Vehicle control, Silverlon, or gauze. The burns were assessed on postburn days 4, 7, and 14. Assessments consisted of digital photographs, Laser-Speckle imagery (blood perfusion), MolecuLight imagery (qualitative bacterial load), and biopsies for histology and immunohistochemistry (interleukin six and tumor necrosis factor-α).

Results: Topical treatment with NEPE14 significantly (P < 0.001) decreased inflammation (interleukin six and tumor necrosis factor-α) in comparison to control groups. It was also demonstrated that the reduction in inflammation led to mitigation of burn wound progression. In terms of wound healing and presence of bacteria, no statistically significant differences were observed.

Conclusions: Topical treatment of deep partial-thickness burns with NEPE14 decreased wound inflammation and mitigated burn wound progression in comparison to control treatments.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38320364/

https://www.journalofsurgicalresearch.com/article/S0022-4804(24)00037-4/fulltext

Antiviral Activities of Cannabis

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“Despite the history of scientific evidence regarding plants and their products in prophylactics and therapeutics, their applications in healthcare systems are only now gaining momentum.

Plants contain bioactive compounds that target certain viruses to cure or prevent viral diseases and infections.

They provide a rich resource of antiviral drugs. Identifying the antiviral mechanisms in plants has shed light on where they interact with the life cycle of viruses, such as viral entry, replication, assembly, and release.”

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-35155-6_13

Terpenes and cannabidiol against human corona and influenza viruses-Anti-inflammatory and antiviral in vitro evaluation

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“The activity of the terpenes and Cannabidiol (CBD) against human coronavirus (HCoV) strain OC43 and influenza A (H1N1) was evaluated in human lung fibroblasts (MRC-5 cells). Also, we examined whether these ingredients inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

The tested preparations exhibited both anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects. The combination of terpenes was effective against both HCoV-OC43 and influenza A (H1N1) virus.

The addition of CBD improved the antiviral activity in some, but not all cases. This variation in activity may suggest an antiviral mechanism. In addition, there was a strong correlation between the quantitative results from a cell-viability assay and the cytopathic effect after 72 h, as observed under a microscope.

The anti-inflammatory properties of terpenes were demonstrated using a pro-inflammatory cytokine-inhibition assay, which revealed significant cytokine inhibition and enhanced by the addition of CBD.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38318445/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215017X2400002X?via%3Dihub