“Commonly known as marijuana or hemp, Cannabis sativa L. (Cannabaceae), contains numerous active compounds, particularly cannabinoids, which have been extensively studied for their biological activities. Among these, cannabidiol (CBD) stands out for its therapeutic potential, especially given its non-psychotropic effects.
This review evaluates the antitumor properties of CBD, highlighting its various mechanisms of action, including the induction of apoptosis, autophagy, and necrosis.
By synthesizing findings from in vitro studies on the cell death mechanisms and signaling pathways activated by CBD in various human tumor cell lines, this literature review emphasizes the therapeutic promise of this natural antineoplastic agent. We conducted a comprehensive search of articles in PubMed, Scopus, Springer, Medline, Lilacs, and Scielo databases from 1984 to February 2022.
Of the forty-three articles included, the majority (68.18%) reported that CBD activates apoptosis, while 18.18% observed simultaneous apoptosis and autophagy, 9.09% focused on autophagy alone, and 4.54% indicated necrosis. The antitumor effects of CBD appear to be mediated by transient receptor potential cation channels (TRPVs) in endometrial cancer, glioma, bladder cancer, and myeloma, with TRPV1, TRPV2, and TRPV4 playing key roles in activating apoptosis.
This knowledge paves the way for innovative therapeutic strategies that may enhance cancer treatment outcomes while minimizing the toxicity and side effects associated with conventional therapies.”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40006844/
“This review underscores the therapeutic potential of CBD as a promising antitumor agent across various cancer types, particularly through its interaction with transient receptor potential cation channels (TRPVs) and endocannabinoid CB receptors.
Our findings suggest that CBD primarily activates the apoptosis pathway while also engaging autophagy and necrosis, offering a multifaceted strategy for inducing cancer cell death. Moreover, the potential for combination therapies that integrate CBD with established chemotherapeutics highlights the importance of further research to investigate these synergies and optimize therapeutic regimens.
Although regulatory challenges persist, robust scientific evidence demonstrating CBD’s safety and efficacy of CBD will be crucial for advancing its clinical application in oncology.”