Best of the Week...
In a survey of patients with Parkinson’s disease, they reported using more CBD products via oral administration for sleep, pain & mood
Higher Risk, Higher Reward? Self-Reported Effects of Real-World Cannabis Use in Parkinson's Disease
A new review of cannabis & CBD uses
Therapeutic Potential of Cannabis, Cannabidiol, and Cannabinoid-Based Pharmaceuticals
And a review of the mechanisms by which CBD works
A narrative review of molecular mechanism and therapeutic effect of cannabidiol (CBD)
A review of the minor cannabinoids & how they enhance the health effects of cannabis
Minor Cannabinoids: Biosynthesis, Molecular Pharmacology and Potential Therapeutic Uses
The famed Dr. Nutt on the moral imperative of physicians to understand & prescribe medical cannabis
Why doctors have a moral imperative to prescribe and support medical cannabis—an essay by David Nutt
This review of 4 famous women in neuroscience features Dr. Yasmin Hurd, the multidisciplinary researcher of cannabinoids at Mount Sinai
Women in Neuroscience: Four Women’s Contributions to Science and Society
Clinical Studies & Surveys of CBD & the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
Among humans with autism, they were more likely to be using CBD than the rest of the population
Cannabis and cannabidiol use among autistic and non-autistic adults in the UK: a propensity score-matched analysis
In an analysis of seizure patients, CBD users had lower levels of seizure-related hospital visits
Effects of Epidiolex® (Cannabidiol) on seizure-related emergency department visits and hospital admissions: A retrospective cohort study
And according to these interviews with caregivers of epileptic patients, they saw benefits from CBD
Cannabidiol and refractory epilepsy: parental and caregiver perspectives of participation in a compassionate access scheme
In healthy humans, THC reduced the intraocular pressure of their eye
The Relationship Between Plasma Tetrahydrocannabinol Levels and Intraocular Pressure in Healthy Adult Subjects
Data from a medical cannabis app shows that inhaled cannabis reduces self-reported pain severity by ~45%
A Large-Scale Naturalistic Examination of the Acute Effects of Cannabis on Pain
According to this survey, the majority of humans with head & neck cancer consider cannabis as a treatment for the pain & anxiety
Attitudes Toward and Acceptability of Medical Marijuana Use Among Head and Neck Cancer Patients
In humans with their first episode of schizophrenia, they have decreased levels of 2-AG & higher levels of PEA
The Expanded Endocannabinoid System Contributes to Metabolic and Body Mass Shifts in First-Episode Schizophrenia: A 5-Year Follow-Up Study
A patient registry looked at cannabis & cannabinoids for neuropathic pain
Cannabis-based medicines and medical cannabis for patients with neuropathic pain and other pain disorders: Nationwide register-based pharmacoepidemiologic comparison with propensity score matched controls
In pain patients, a combination of CBD & THC helped as an add-on treatment for neuropathic pain
Comparison of the Effectiveness and Tolerability of Nabiximols (THC:CBD) Oromucosal Spray versus Oral Dronabinol (THC) as Add-on Treatment for Severe Neuropathic Pain in Real-World Clinical Practice: Retrospective Analysis of the German Pain e-Registry
In migraine patients, oral cannabinoids helped reduce pain intensity & to lower acute medication intake
Oral Cannabinoid Preparations for the Treatment of Chronic Migraine: A Retrospective Study
In trauma patients, medical use is associated with decreased mortality
Marijuana Use Associated with Decreased Mortality in Trauma Patients
Recent Reviews
A review on using cannabis & CBD for chronic pain
Living Systematic Review on Cannabis and Other Plant-Based Treatments for Chronic Pain
An article on the use of cannabis for the concussions of sports
Actually, Say Yes to Dope: A Much-Maligned Drug May be the Key to Saving the Brain from Concussions
This review looks at whether endocannabinoids cause the runner’s high. The answer, a tentative yes
Do Endocannabinoids Cause the Runner's High? Evidence and Open Questions
On targeting the ECS for obesity & metabolic disorders
The Endocannabinoid System, an Underexploited and Promising Niche for the Pharmacological Treatment of Obesity and Metabolic Diseases
This review looks at the importance of the endocannabinoid system to modify the course of diseases in the GI tract
Modulatory role of the endocannabinoidome in the pathophysiology of the gastrointestinal tract
This review looks at using cannabinoids for treating the cachexia (wasting syndrome) caused by cancer
Cannabinoid interventions for improving cachexia outcomes in cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
A review looking at targeting the CB2 receptor for neurodegenerative diseases
New Insights and Potential Therapeutic Targeting of CB2 Cannabinoid Receptors in CNS Disorders
This review of Alzheimer’s suggesting increasing the antioxidant & endocannabinoid levels
Simultaneous Elevation Of Antioxidant And Endocannabinoid Defense System May Prevent Dementia And Improve Cognitive Function In Humans
This well-done review paper on the science & business of cannabis contains a strong summary of the ECS & the phytocannabinoids
Between Science and Big Business: Tapping Mary Jane’s Uncharted Potential
This review looks at the effects of alcohol on the ECS
The Synaptic Interactions of Alcohol and the Endogenous Cannabinoid System
A review of the endocannabinoid system
Endocannabinoids
Preclinical Research & Cannabinoid Chemistry
In flatworms with their heads cut off, a solution of CBD caused a faster regeneration of their head
Effects of Cannabidiol on Dugesia Dorotocephala Head Regeneration
White blood cells modulated by CBD as well as by cannabis extracts
Immunosuppressive activity of non-psychoactive Cannabis sativa L. extract on the function of human T lymphocytes
In rats with nausea from THC, CBD lessened the effects via a serotonin receptor
Cannabidiol Interferes with Establishment of Δ 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol-Induced Nausea Through a 5-HT 1A Mechanism
In a rat model of schizophrenia, inhibition of anandamide breakdown reversed the long-term behavioral symptoms & genetic expressions via the CB1 & CB2 receptor
Anandamide Hydrolysis Inhibition Reverses the Long-Term Behavioral and Gene Expression Alterations Induced by MK-801 in Male Rats: Differential CB1 and CB2 Receptor-Mediated Effects
Researchers looking to create new molecules to help increase PEA levels
Discovery and SAR Evolution of Pyrazole Azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane Sulfonamides as a Novel Class of Non-Covalent N-Acylethanolamine-Hydrolyzing Acid Amidase (NAAA) Inhibitors for Oral Administration
A major carotenoid from brown seaweed called fucoxanthinol appears to help with inflammation via its modulation of the PEA pathway
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Fucoxanthinol in LPS-Induced RAW264.7 Cells through the NAAA-PEA Pathway
In a mouse model of menopause, disrupting the cannabinoid receptor interacting protein 1 (CRIP1/ CNRIP1 – alters how molecules bind to the CB1 receptor) helped with cognitive flexibility
Disrupting cannabinoid receptor interacting protein 1 rescues cognitive flexibility in long-term estrogen-deprived female mice
In a rat model of depression, blocking the CB1 receptor at certain timeframes increased their locomotion
CB1-RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST SR-141716A MODULATES LOCOMOTOR ACTIVITY IN OBXRATS
In a mouse model of itching skin, activating the CB1 receptor reduced itching behavior
The Effects of the Heat Shock Protein 90 Inhibitor 17-Allylamino-17-Demethoxygeldanamycin, Cannabinoid Agonist WIN 55,212-2, and Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitor Nω-Nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester Hydrochloride on the Serotonin and Dry Skin-Induced Itch
In a mouse model of fear and anxiety, using orexin to increase 2-AG levels in the amygdala & hippocampus led to less extinction of fearful memories
Amygdalar CB2 cannabinoid receptor mediates fear extinction deficits promoted by orexin-A/hypocretin-1
In mouse eyes injured by excess glutamate, activating the CB1 & CB2 receptors doubled the number of neural eye cells to survive
Neuroprotection of Retinal Ganglion Cells In Vivo Using the Activation of the Endogenous Cannabinoid Signaling System in Mammalian Eyes
In dairy cows, daily injections of AEA & 2-AG helped with stress & metabolism
Effects of endocannabinoids on feed intake, stress response and whole-body energy metabolism in dairy cows
The ability of magnolia-vine to protect the liver seems to be mediated by the CB2 receptor
Schisandrin B targets cannabinoid 2 receptor in Kupffer cell to ameliorate CCl4-induced liver fibrosis by suppressing NF-κB and p38 MAPK pathway
These researchers suggest the tobacco hornworm as a model organism for cannabinoid studies
Tobacco Hornworm as an Insect Model System for Cannabinoid Pre-clinical Studies
Researchers create radioactive CB2 probes to learn more about how the ECS works
Development of high-affinity fluorinated ligands for cannabinoid subtype 2 receptor, and in vitro evaluation of a radioactive tracer for imaging