Entries by Michelle Smith

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Cannabis for Anxiety and PTSD

Anxiety disorders are the most common type of psychiatric disorders, and they’re one of the most common conditions for which people use cannabis. One review found that among 6665 cannabis users with data collected from 13 different studies, 52% of the subjects reported using cannabis for anxiety, making it the second most commonly treated symptom, following pain (1). Anxiety disorders come in many forms, including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and panic disorders.

Table 2 Descriptions of frequently consumed Cannabis flower chemovar index codes

Little is known about the frequency with which different combinations of phytochemicals (chemovars) arise in Cannabis flower or whether common chemovars are associated with distinct pharmacodynamics and patient health outcomes. This study created a clinically relevant, user-friendly, scalable chemovar indexing system summarizing primary cannabinoid and terpene contents and tested whether the most frequently consumed chemovars differ in their treatment effectiveness and experienced side effects.

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Cannabidiol Negatively Regulates Androgenic Signal in Prostate Cancer Cells and Fine-Tunes the Tumorigenesis by Modulating Endoplasmic Reticulum-Associated Degradation, Unfolded Protein Response, and Autophagy

Cannabis sativa L., Cannabaceae, has been used as a herbal medicine for several thousand years in many cultures and it has more than 540 metabolites that provide therapeutic effects. Cannabinoids are the major compounds derived from the Cannabis species. There are over 120 isolated and identified cannabinoids from C. sativa and (−)-cannabidiol is one of the most well-researched among them. Recent studies have focused on the expanding usage of cannabidiol in many therapeutic areas as well as cancer. Studies demonstrated a negative correlation between cannabidiol administration and the growth of various cancer types, including prostate cancer. However, the detailed mode of action of cannabidiol on prostate cancer remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of cannabidiol prostate cancer cells. For this aim, we examined the effect of cannabidiol on autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, unfolded protein response, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and androgenic signaling in vitro. We found that cannabidiol remarkably inhibited autophagy. Also, it strongly induced unfolded protein response and endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation mechanisms. Moreover, it exerted anti-cancer activity by reducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition and causing cell cycle arrest. Additionally, cannabidiol importantly disrupted androgenic signaling by affecting basal androgen receptor levels and inhibiting nuclear translocation of this receptor.

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Cannabidiol as a potential novel treatment for endometriosis by its anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and antiangiogenic effects in an experimental rat model

Endometrial implants were surgically induced in 36 female Wistar albino rats. After confirmation of endometriotic foci, the rats were randomized into four groups. In the leuprolide acetate group, rats were given a single 1 mg/kg s.c. leuprolide acetate injection. The other groups were 5 mg/kg CBD (CBD5), saline solution and 20 mg/kg CBD (CBD20); daily i.p. injections were administered for 7 days. After 21 days, the rats were euthanised, and total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) measurements in blood and peritoneal fluid samples, and immunohistochemical staining for TNF-α, IL-6 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) of endometriotic tissues were evaluated.

Assessment of Orally Administered Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol When Coadministered With Cannabidiol on Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Are there acute pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic differences between oral ingestion of a Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC)-dominant cannabis extract compared with a cannabidiol (CBD)-dominant extract at the same Δ9-THC dose (20 mg) in healthy adults who use cannabis infrequently? In this randomized clinical trial including 18 adult participants, ingestion of 20 mg Δ9-THC + 640 mg CBD resulted in stronger subjective drug effects, greater impairment of cognitive and psychomotor ability, and greater increase in heart rate relative to 20 mg Δ9-THC alone and placebo. These effects appear to be mediated by CBD inhibition of Δ9-THC and 11-OH-Δ9-THC metabolism.

Chemical transformation of cannabidiol into psychotropic cannabinoids under acidic reaction conditions: Identifification of transformed products by GC-MS

Recently, cannabidiol (CBD), one of the major components of the Cannabis species, has been a focus in the cannabis industry due to its various pharmacological effects. Interestingly, CBD can be converted into several psychoactive cannabinoids, such as 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (D9-THC) and its structural isomers, under acidic reaction conditions. In this study, chemical transformation of CBD in ethanol solution was conducted with variation in pH at 2.0, 3.5, and 5.0 by addition of 0.1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl). These resulting solutions were derivatized with trimethylsilyl (TMS) reagent and analyzed using GC/MS-scan mode. Time profiles of CBD degradation and transformation of products were examined according to variations in pH and temperature.

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Cannabidiol alters mitochondrial bioenergetics via VDAC1 and triggers cell death in hormone-refractory prostate cancer

In spite of the huge advancements in both diagnosis and interventions, hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) remains a major hurdle in prostate cancer (PCa). Metabolic reprogramming plays a key role in PCa oncogenesis and resistance. However, the dynamics between metabolism and oncogenesis are not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate that two multi-target natural products, cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG), suppress HRPC development in the TRansgenic Adenocarcinoma of the Mouse Prostate (TRAMP) model by reprogramming metabolic and oncogenic signaling. Mechanistically, CBD increases glycolytic capacity and inhibits oxidative phosphorylation in enzalutamide-resistant HRPC cells. This action of CBD originates from its effect on metabolic plasticity via modulation of VDAC1 and hexokinase II (HKII) coupling on the outer mitochondrial membrane, which leads to strong shifts of mitochondrial functions and oncogenic signaling pathways. The effect of CBG on enzalutamide-resistant HRPC cells was less pronounced than CBD and only partially attributable to its action on mitochondria. However, when optimally combined, these two cannabinoids exhibited strong anti-tumor effects in TRAMP mice, even when these had become refractory to enzalutamide, thus pointing to their therapeutical potential against PCa.

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The Use of Cannabinoids in the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): A Review of the Literature

Around the world, about 15 to 40% of individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) rely on cannabis and cannabinoids to reduce the need for other medications, as well as increase appetite and reduce pain. Whereas more and more patients continue to report benefits accruing from cannabis and cannabinoid usage in IBD, agreement relative to the use of cannabis and its derivatives in IBD remains unclear. This paper reviewed the interplay between cannabinoid use and IBD disease treatment, remission, or symptom relief. The study was conducted from a systematic review perspective. It involved consulting literature from published original research articles, noting outcomes, and performing a meta-analysis to identify trends and draw conclusions. The selected articles were those that had been published in a 10-year period ranging between 2012 and 2022. The motivation was to ensure recency and also relevance to contemporary scientific research and clinical environment practices.

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A Retrospective Medical Record Review of Adults with Non-Cancer Diagnoses Prescribed Medicinal Cannabis

Research describing patients using medicinal cannabis and its effectiveness is lacking. We aimed to describe adults with non-cancer diagnoses who are prescribed medicinal cannabis via a retrospective medical record review and assess its effectiveness and safety. From 157 Australian records, most were female (63.7%; mean age 63.0 years). Most patients had neurological (58.0%) or musculoskeletal (24.8%) conditions. Medicinal cannabis was perceived beneficial by 53.5% of patients.

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A Survey of Cannabis Use among Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic conditions of unknown cause or cure. Treatment seeks to reduce symptoms and induce and maintain remission. Many patients have turned to alternatives, such as cannabis, to alleviate living with IBD. This study reports the demographics, prevalence, and perception on cannabis use of patients attending an IBD clinic. Patients agreed to participate and completed an anonymous survey during their visit or online. Descriptive analysis, Fisher’s exact test, and Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney rank-sum test were used. One hundred and sixty- two adults (85 males, 77 with CD) completed the survey. Sixty (37%) reported use of cannabis, of which 38 (63%) used it to relieve their IBD. A value of 77% reported low to moderate knowledge about cannabis, and 15% reported little to no knowledge. Among cannabis users, 48% had discussed use with their physician, but 88% said they would feel comfortable discussing medical cannabis for IBD. Most saw improvement of their symptoms (85.7%). A considerable number of patients with IBD use medical cannabis for their disease, unknown to their physician. The study reinforces the importance that physicians understand the role of cannabis in the treatment of IBD in order to appropriately counsel patients.

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Cannabidiol goes nuclear: The role of PPARγ

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the main phytocannabinoids found in Cannabis sativa. In contrast to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, it has a low affinity for cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, thereby it does not induce significant psychoactive effects. However, CBD may interact with other receptors, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). CBD is a PPARγ agonist and changes its expression. There is considerable evidence that CBD’s effects are mediated by its interaction with PPARγ. So, we reviewed studies related to the interaction of CBD and PPARγ.