Cannabidiol as a potential novel treatment for endometriosis by its anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and anti-angiogenic effects in an experimental rat model
Can cannabidiol (CBD) be used in the treatment of endometriosis by its anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and anti-angiogenic effects? Endometrial implants were surgically induced in 36 female Wistar-Albino rats. After confirmation of endometriotic foci, the rats were randomized into four groups. In leuprolide acetate (LA) group, rats were given a single 1mg/kg subcutaneous LA injection. Other groups were 5 mg/kg CBD (CBD5), saline solution (SS), and 20 mg/kg CBD (CBD20) and daily intra-peritoneal injections were applied for seven days. After 21 days, the rats were sacrificed, and total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor 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.