Prospects in the Use of Cannabis sativa Extracts in Nanoemulsions

Posted on by

Cannabis sativa contains a wide range of biologically active compounds with medicinal potential, including cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids and other plant chemicals. This review examined extraction methods and nanoemulsion technologies that could improve the stability, delivery, bioavailability and preservation of these compounds while expanding the potential use of whole-plant cannabis extracts.

The authors highlight antioxidant, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activity associated with Cannabis sativa extracts and argue that nanoformulations could help move this research toward broader pharmaceutical development. They specifically call for greater industry participation to advance new delivery methods, scale up cannabis nanoemulsion production and support the progression from animal research toward eventual human applications.

“Cannabis sativa plants have been widely investigated for their specific compounds with medicinal properties. These bioactive compounds exert preventive and curative effects on non-communicable and infectious diseases.

However, C. sativa extracts have barely been investigated, although they constitute an affordable option to treat human diseases.

Nonetheless, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immunogenicity effects have been associated with C. sativa extracts.

Furthermore, innovative extraction methods in combination with nanoformulations have been proposed to increase desirable compounds’ availability, distribution, and conservation, which can be aided by modern computational tools in a transdisciplinary approach.

This review aims to describe available extraction and nanoformulation methods for C. sativa, as well as its known antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immunogenic activities. Critical points on the use of C. sativa extracts in nanoformulations are identified and some prospects are envisaged.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39727490

“Given all this, the pharmaceutical industry’s active participation is needed to advance and exploit other forms of distribution in animals and, finally, application in humans.”

“The industry could participate in innovation in harnessing Cannabis and scaling up the production of nanoemulsions.” 

https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6284/13/4/53


Analgesic effect of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol

Posted on by

A preliminary double-blind clinical trial found that oral delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) produced significant pain relief in patients with cancer pain. In the 10-patient study, THC doses of 15 and 20 mg provided significantly greater analgesic effects than placebo.

The study’s main clinical takeaway is that THC showed a measurable analgesic effect at higher oral doses, but the benefit was accompanied by dose-limiting central nervous system side effects. In practical terms, the findings suggest a potential role for THC in cancer pain management while also underscoring the importance of balancing pain relief against sedation, cognitive impairment, and overall tolerability.

“A preliminary trial of oral delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) demonstrated an analgesic effect of the drug in patients experiencing cancer pain. Placebo and 5, 10, 15, and 20 mg THC were administered double blind to ten patients. Pain relief significantly superior to placebo was demonstrated at high dose levels (15 and 20 mg). At these levels, substantial sedation and mental clouding were reported.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1091664

https://accp1.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/j.1552-4604.1975.tb02348.x

Need this THC study explained? thcXplained.com

Antiemetic effect of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy

Posted on by

Oral delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was tested in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving cancer patients receiving chemotherapy known to cause nausea and vomiting. Among 20 evaluable patients, an antiemetic effect was seen in 14 of 20 THC treatment courses and in none of 22 placebo courses. In patients who completed the study, THC produced a response in 12 of 15 courses compared with 0 of 14 placebo courses. The researchers concluded that oral THC had significant antiemetic effects and was better than placebo at reducing chemotherapy-induced vomiting.

“Anecdotal accounts suggested that smoking marihuana decreases the nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapeutic agents.

Oral delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol was compared with placebo in a controlled, randomized, “double-blind” experiment.

All patients were receiving chemotherapeutic drugs known to cause nausea and vomiting of central origin. Each patient was to serve as his own control to determine whether tetrahydrocannabinol had an antiemetic effect. Twenty-two patients entered the study, 20 of whom were evaluable.

For all patients an antiemetic effect was observed in 14 of 20 tetrahydrocannabinol courses and in none of 22 placebo courses. For patients completing the study, response occurred in 12 of 15 courses of tetrahydrocannabinol and in none of 14 courses of placebo (P less than 0.001).

No patient vomited while experiencing a subjective “high”.

Oral tetrahydrocannabinol has antiemetic properties and is significantly better than a placebo in reducting vomiting caused by chemotherapeutic agents.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1099449

https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJM197510162931603

Need this THC study explained? thcXplained.com

Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) Improves Ischemia/Reperfusion Heart Dysfunction and Might Serve as a Cardioprotective Agent in the Future Treatment

Posted on by

Researchers examined whether Δ9-THC could protect heart tissue from ischemia/reperfusion injury—the damage that can occur when blood flow returns after a period of oxygen deprivation. Using isolated rat hearts and human cardiac cells, the study found that THC improved recovery of heart function, reduced cellular injury and death, supported antioxidant defenses, and helped restore normal cardiac mechanical function.

“Background: Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is a pivotal mechanism of organ injury during clinical stetting for example for cardiopulmonary bypasses. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during I/R induces oxidative stress that promotes endothelial dysfunction, DNA dissociation and local inflammation. In turn, those processes induce cytokine release, resulting in damage to cellular structures and cell death. One of the major psychoactive compounds of Cannabis is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), which is known as an anti-inflammatory mediator. Our research aimed to test if Δ9-THC may be protective in the treatment of cardiovascular system dysfunction arising from I/R heart injury.

Methods: Two experimental models were used: isolated rat hearts perfused with the Langendorff method and human cardiac myocytes (HCM) culture. Rat hearts and HCM underwent ex vivo/chemical in vitro I/R protocol with/without Δ9-THC treatment. The following parameters were measured: cell metabolic activity, morphology changes, cell damage as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, ceramide kinase (CERK) activity, ROS level, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and heart hemodynamic parameters.

Results: Δ9-THC protected the heart, as evidenced by the improved recovery of cardiac function (p < 0.05, N = 3-6). Cells subjected to I/R showed lower cytoplasmic LDH activity, and 10 μM Δ9-THC treatment reduced cell injury and increased LDH content (p = 0.019, N = 6-9). Morphology changes of HCM-spherical shape, vacuolisation of cytoplasm and swollen mitochondria-were inhibited due to Δ9-THC treatment. I/R condition affected cell viability, but 10 μM Δ9-THC decreased the number of dead cells (p = 0.005, N = 6-9). The total level of CERK was lower in the I/R group, reflecting oxidative/nitrosative stress changes. The administration of Δ9-THC effectively increased the production of CERK to the level of aerobic control (p = 0.028, N = 6-9). ROS level was significantly decreased in I/R cells (p = 0.007, N = 6-8), confirming oxidative stress, while administration of 10 μM Δ9-THC enhanced TAC in cardiomyocytes subjected to I/R (p = 0.010, N = 6-8).

Conclusions: Δ9-THC promotes the viability of cardiomyocytes, improves their metabolic activity, decreases cell damage and restores heart mechanical function, serving as a cardioprotective. We proposed the use of Δ9-THC as a cardioprotective drug to be, administered before onset of I/R protocol.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35468673/

“In conclusion, in this study we found that Δ9-THC promotes the viability and improves the metabolic activity of cardiomyocytes, as well as decreasing cell damage and restoring heart mechanical function, proving that it has a cardioprotective function at the pre-treatment level.

We propose the use of THC as a potentially cardioprotective compound to be, administered before ischemia and during the first minutes of reperfusion.

We hope that this cannabis product may be included in future clinical investigations using similar models of ischemia-reperfusion injury. We also recommend the presented data to be considered alongside clinical observations of patient outcomes with history of cannabis use.”

https://www.imrpress.com/journal/FBL/27/4/10.31083/j.fbl2704114

Need this THC study explained? thcXplained.com

Cannabidiol alters the epigenome of hormone-dependent prostate cancer cells

Posted on by

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in the Cannabis sativa plant.

New research suggests CBD may interfere with prostate cancer through several biological pathways, including changes in gene expression and the epigenome. In laboratory prostate cancer cell models, CBD reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, altered DNA methylation patterns, affected the expression of epigenetic regulators including DNMT1 and EZH2, and downregulated important cell-cycle regulators such as CDK1 and CDK2.

Researchers also reported additive or synergistic effects when CBD was combined with targeted and hormonal cancer therapies, including enzalutamide. The findings suggest CBD’s anticancer activity in prostate cancer may involve disruption of cell-cycle regulation and epigenetic modulation, supporting further investigation of CBD both alone and in combination with established treatments.

“Background: Cannabidiol (CBD) shows promising anti-cancer effects, including reducing proliferation and migration and inducing cell death. However, its impact on cancer gene regulation and epigenetic mechanisms remains poorly understood, particularly in prostate cancer, a disease characterised by widespread epigenetic alterations.

Purpose: This study investigated whether CBD exerts anti-cancer effects in prostate cancer by modulating cell viability, gene expression, and the epigenome and whether it enhances the efficacy of targeted and hormonal agents.

Study design/methods: Prostate cancer cell lines (DU145, PC3, LNCaP) were treated with varying concentrations of CBD, Talazoparib, GSK126 and enzalutamide. Cell viability was assessed by MTT. Transcriptomic changes were analysed by RNAseq and qRT-PCR, and epigenetic effects were evaluated by the Infinium MethylationEpic V2.0 BeadChip array. Analysis of total 5mC and expression/activity of EZH2 were assessed by ELIZA and Western blot respectively.

Results: Epigenetically, CBD altered methylation patterns in LNCaP cells, while modulating DNMT1 and EZH2 expression across models. However, EZH2 catalytic activity was unchanged. CBD induced widespread transcriptional changes, particularly in LNCaP cells, with enrichment of cell cycle pathways and downregulation of key regulators (e.g., CDK1/2). CBD reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, showing additive or synergistic effects with both targeted and hormonal therapies.

Conclusion: CBD exerts anti-cancer effects in prostate cancer, potentially through disruption of cell cycle regulation and epigenetic modulation. These findings support its potential as a therapeutic agent, particularly in combination with targeted treatments.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42691574

“Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the best known and abundant phytocannabinoids. Numerous studies have demonstrated CBD’s anti-cancer effects, detailing its ability to inhibit cancer cell growth, proliferation, invasion, and migration in vitro, and reduce tumour volume in vivo.”

“To our knowledge, this study provides the first systematic characterisation of CBD’s effects on the prostate cancer epigenome, addressing a significant gap given the disease’s strong epigenetic basis.“

http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0753332226009273

Cannabigerol, a minor phytocannabinoid, prevents behavioral changes induced by psychotomimetic drugs

Posted on by

A new preclinical study suggests that cannabigerol (CBG), a non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in cannabis, may have antipsychotic-like effects. In mice, CBG reduced behavioral disruptions caused by both amphetamine and MK-801, including impairments in sensorimotor gating, social interaction, recognition memory and abnormal activity. The researchers report that these effects occurred at relatively low doses and describe the study as the first to demonstrate CBG’s antipsychotic-like activity across multiple behavioral tests, supporting further translational and clinical investigation.

“Cannabigerol (CBG) is a phytocannabinoid present in the plant Cannabis sativa that, similar to cannabidiol (CBD), does not cause psychotomimetic effects. It has shown potential therapeutic effects for relieving pain, inflammation, and anxiety, and it possesses antioxidant and neuroprotective properties.

To date, few studies have investigated the potential of CBG in animal models of schizophrenia. Previous studies have demonstrated the antipsychotic-like profile of CBD in clinical and preclinical studies, with a lower induction of side effects when compared to conventional therapy. Although the pharmacological properties of CBG partially resemble those of CBD, some important differences could result in distinct clinical potential.

In the present work, we investigated whether CBG could also show an antipsychotic-like profile in animal models of schizophrenia.

Male Swiss mice received intraperitoneal injections of CBG followed by d-amphetamine (AMPH) or MK-801 and were exposed to different behavioral assays, including the open field, novel object recognition (NOR), social interaction, and prepulse inhibition (PPI) tests.

CBG attenuated the disruptive effects of AMPH in the PPI and open field tests. In addition, pre-treatment with this compound also attenuated the impairments in the social interaction test, NOR, and PPI induced by MK-801.

These results suggest that CBG therapeutic profile in behavioral assays. Notably, these benefits were observed at reduced concentrations, indicating that this compound represents a promising candidate for future translational and clinical investigations.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42692325

“CBG is a promising candidate for future translational investigations into psychiatric disorders.”

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278584626003015?via%3Dihub

Physicochemical Characterization, Microencapsulation, and In-vitro Wound Healing Potential of Cold-Pressed Industrial Hemp Seed Oil

Posted on by

Cold-pressed industrial hemp seed oil may have significant potential for skin regeneration and wound healing, according to a new laboratory study. Researchers found that the oil, naturally rich in essential fatty acids and beta-sitosterol, significantly accelerated wound closure and increased the proliferation of normal human dermal fibroblast cells by 72%. Although microencapsulation improved the oil’s stability against oxidation, it also reduced its biological activity, suggesting that the delivery system will need further optimization for topical use.

“Cold-pressed industrial hemp seed oil (CPCSSO) with a fully characterized physicochemical profile; including fatty acids, sterols and quality indices is a natural regenerative agent due to its high content of essential fatty acids (EFA) and its dominant beta-sitosterol fraction (62.10 %). However, its susceptibility to oxidation (Iodine Value: 157) limits its effectiveness when applied topically.

To address this issue, this study is aimed to stabilize CPCSSO through an innovative complex coacervation system using a gelatin/gum Arabic matrix crosslinked with natural transglutaminase (Tgase) and tannic acid (TA).

Physicochemical analyses confirmed that CPCSSO retained excellent quality criteria, including low free fatty acid and peroxide values. In vitro biological tests showed that unencapsulated CPCSSO at concentrations as low as 0.12 mg/mL significantly accelerated wound healing achieving highly statistically significant results (48 hours) and increased proliferation of normal human dermal fibroblast cells by 72 %.

This demonstrates the oil’s substantial potential for skin regeneration, although microencapsulation improved the stability of CPCSSO, the biological activity of the encapsulated CPCSSO decreased.

The current findings highlight the effectiveness of CPCSSO in wound healing and suggest that further optimization is necessary for the TGase-TA crosslinking system to serve as a reliable method for the topical delivery of natural bioactive compounds.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42686591

https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jos/75/9/75_jos.ess26035/_article

Cannabigerol and standardized full-spectrum cannabis extract effects in acute and chronic inflammatory pain models

Posted on by

Cannabigerol (CBG) and a standardized full-spectrum cannabis extract both reduced inflammatory pain and inflammation in a rat study, although their effects developed differently. The full-spectrum extract produced faster pain relief, while repeated CBG treatment eventually restored pain sensitivity to baseline and maintained a longer-lasting antinociceptive effect. Both treatments also prevented increases in the inflammatory marker TNF-α in the spinal cord and blood and helped protect against inflammation-related motor impairment.

“Background: Chronic inflammatory pain is associated with persistent sensory and immune dysregulation. We evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of two cannabinoids formulations-Cannabigerol (CBG) and Standardized Full-Spectrum Cannabis Extract (FULL) in a preclinical model of acute and Chronic inflammatory pain and examined their effects on peripheral and central inflammatory mediators.

Methods: Cannabinoid analgesic effects were assessed in male Wistar Hannover rats using acute (formalin) and chronic inflammatory pain (CFA) models. Treatments were administered at different doses before the formalin test and after CFA as a single dose or once daily for 21 days. Motor function and inflammatory markers (TNF-α and IL-10) were evaluated using actimeter test and ELISA.

Results: In the formalin test, both cannabinoids reduced nociceptive behaviors during Phase I, whereas only FULL produced sustained analgesia during Phase II. In the chronic model, single administration produced no significant effects; while repeated treatment (highest doses) improved mechanical thresholds. FULL (10 mg/kg) produced earlier analgesic effects (day 10), while CBG (10 mg/kg) fully restored baseline sensitivity from day 15 onward. In locomotor assessments, both compounds prevented CFA-induced motor impairments, except at the lowest CBG dose. CFA increased tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the spinal cord, dorsal root ganglia (DRG), and plasma. Both cannabinoids prevented the CFA-induced increase in TNF-α levels in the spinal cord and plasma. Elevated TNF-α in the DRG persisted despite treatment, indicating region-specific regulation. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels were unaffected.

Conclusion: Both cannabinoids exert analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, with FULL providing faster acute relief and CBG produced a more prolonged antinociceptive effect.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42690319

“In conclusion, our study demonstrates that both cannabigerol (CBG) and the Standardized Full-Spectrum Cannabis Extract (FULL) exert significant antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in models of acute and chronic chronic pain of inflammatory origin.”

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-026-07156-y

Full-spectrum cannabidiol-rich oil modulates behavior and neurochemical alterations in a rodent model of maple syrup urine disease

Posted on by

A new animal study suggests that full-spectrum CBD-rich oil may help protect the brain from some of the neurological effects associated with Maple Syrup Urine Disease. In rats, CBD treatment reduced inflammation and oxidative stress, improved cholinergic function, and at the lower dose improved short-term memory.

The researchers concluded that full-spectrum CBD-rich oil shows therapeutic potential for MSUD, although more research is needed to determine the best dose and treatment duration.

“Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) is caused by a genetic mutation in the branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex, resulting to accumulation of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) that affect the central nervous system and cause neurochemical alterations and behavioral changes.

In this line, full-spectrum cannabidiol (CBD)-rich oil has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effects of two doses of the compound full-spectrum CBD-rich oil in a BCAA-induced MSUD rat model, against behavioral, cholinergic, inflammatory, and oxidative stress parameters.

For this, animals were divided into six groups: control group, CBD 3.5 mg/kg group, CBD 7.5 mg/kg group, BCAA group, BCAA + CBD 3.5 mg/kg group, and BCAA + CBD 7.5 mg/kg group. The treatment was administered over 21 days; after that, the animals were subjected to open-field and object recognition tests. Next, we extracted the cerebral cortex to analyze cholinergic function, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

The results show that the open-field test revealed no differences in crossings and rearings across all groups. In object recognition test, control and CBD 3.5 groups showed improved short- and long-term memory compared to training. The CBD 7.5 and BCAA + CBD 3.5 groups showed improvement only in short-term memory. BCAA control and BCAA + 7.5 did not present differences.

In the cholinergic system, BCAA control showed decreased choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, which was reversed by CBD treatment at both doses. The BCAA + CBD 7.5 shows increased ChAT activity compared to control group. While acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was reduced in the CBD 7.5 groups and increased in the BCAA control group, both CBDs reversed this increase in BCAA control group.

Inflammatory cytokines show increased interleukin-1β in BCAA control group, and the CBD treatment decreases its levels compared to BCAA and saline control groups. Interleukin-6 increases in BCAA control group, and CBD 3.5 reverses it. Tumoral necrosis factor-alpha was reduced in BCAA + CBD 3.5 and BCAA + CBD 7.5 compared to control and BCAA control groups.

Further, under oxidative stress, BCAA control increases 2,7-dichlorofluorescein oxidation and thiobarbituric acid levels, which were reversed by CBD treatment. Sulfhydryl content was decreased in CBD 7.5, BCAA control group, BCAA + CBD 3.5, and BCAA + CBD 7.5 compared to control group. Superoxide dismutase activity increased across all groups, whereas catalase activity decreased in the BCAA control group; treatment with CBD 7.5 reversed this reduction.

Overall, we conclude that full-spectrum CBD-rich oil shows therapeutic potential for MSUD, although optimal dosing and treatment duration require further investigation.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42690466

“Cannabis-based products have emerged as a new class of drugs with potential therapeutic effects across a broad range of neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders.”

“In summary, full-spectrum CBD-rich oil produced significant neurochemical benefits in neonatal MSUD model, including modulation of cholinergic enzymes, reduction of oxidative stress, and attenuation of inflammatory cytokines.”

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11011-026-01958-x


Hemp seed protein hydrolysates and its bioactive peptides mitigate muscle atrophy in in vitro and in vivo models

Posted on by

Hemp is increasingly being studied not just as a source of plant protein, but as a source of biologically active compounds that may influence muscle health. In this new study, researchers found that hemp seed protein hydrolysates helped protect against muscle atrophy in both cell and animal models, improving grip strength and muscle mass while also influencing pathways involved in protein synthesis, degradation, inflammation, and apoptosis.

The researchers also identified three bioactive peptides—AERGF, VL, and GLK—that showed particularly strong anti-atrophy effects, with evidence pointing to AMPK/FoxO3a signaling as an important part of their activity. Notably, the hemp protein hydrolysates produced stronger effects than whey protein in the mouse model, highlighting hemp seed as a potentially valuable source of functional proteins and bioactive peptides for future muscle-health research.

“We recently demonstrated that hemp seed protein hydrolysates (HPH), produced through enzymatic hydrolysis, protect against muscle atrophy in both in vitro and in vivo models.

This study aimed to optimize the HPH production method and elucidate its mechanism of action in preventing muscle atrophy, including the identification of bioactive peptides within HPH.

To optimize HPH production, we compared the degree of protein hydrolysis using alcalase and flavourzyme, both individually and in combination. Ultimately, we produced HPH by treating it with 2% flavourzyme for 2 h.

Our results showed that HPH increased cell viability and normalized reactive oxygen species levels in H2O2-treated C2C12 myoblasts. In a mouse model of muscle atrophy induced by dexamethasone (DEX), HPH improved grip strength and increased muscle mass, demonstrating effects stronger than those of whey protein. Immunoblotting analysis indicated that HPH activates protein synthesis pathways while inhibiting protein degradation, apoptosis, and the production of inflammatory cytokines in skeletal muscle. Additionally, we analyzed the peptide composition of HPH and investigated the anti-atrophic effects of specific peptides in C2C12 myotubes.

Among fourteen peptide candidates, peptides AERGF, VL, and GLK showed the most significant effects on enhancing myotube diameter and reducing the expression of ubiquitin ligases and cleaved PARP in DEX-treated C2C12 myotubes. These peptides also increased the phosphorylation of AMPK and FoxO3a, which were reduced by DEX. Notably, their protective effects against myotube atrophy diminished when the cells were co-treated with an AMPK inhibitor.

These findings demonstrate that HPH and its bioactive peptides effectively mitigate DEX-induced muscle atrophy by positively regulating muscle protein synthesis and degradation pathways.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42680322

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0963996926017126?via%3Dihub