Best of the Week...
In humans with PTSD, CBD significantly lowered their stress levels while recalling traumatic events
Effects of cannabidiol on symptoms induced by the recall of traumatic events in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35029706/
In a mouse model of glioma (the most aggressive type of brain cancer), inhaled CBD limited tumor growth, altered the dynamics of the tumor’s microenvironment & improved the immune system response
Inhalant Cannabidiol Inhibits Glioblastoma Progression Through Regulation of Tumor Microenvironment
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34918964/
A great review of the importance of a strong endocannabinoid system
Quality of Life and a Surveillant Endocannabinoid System
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34776851/
In mice, CB1 receptors may form heteromer complexes with a ghrelin receptor, stressing the importance of the ECS & the regulation of metabolism
Ghrelin and Cannabinoid Functional Interactions Mediated by Ghrelin/CB 1 Receptor Heteromers That Are Upregulated in the Striatum From Offspring of Mice Under a High-Fat Diet
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34955755/
A survey of women with endometriosis finds that the majority report cannabis helpful & many are able to replace other drugs with it
Cannabis use for endometriosis : clinical and legal challenges in Australia and New Zealand
https://researchdirect.westernsydney.edu.au/islandora/object/uws:62139/
A new study found that "young people who use cannabis frequently, regardless of gender, have better overall sexual function”
The Influence of Cannabis and Alcohol Use on Sexuality: An Observational Study in Young People (18–30 Years)
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/1/71/htm
Clinical Studies & Reviews of CBD & the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
This review finds that while CBD may be helpful for treating substance use disorders, more research is needed
Cannabidiol and substance use disorder: Dream or reality
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35032495/
In children with treatment resistant epilepsy, treatment with CBD cannabis oil was “safe, well tolerated, and effective” for reducing seizures & improving daily life
Long-term use of cannabidiol-enriched medical cannabis in a prospective cohort of children with drug-resistant developmental and epileptic encephalopathy
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34999381/
Three people with ADHD find cannabis helpful for their symptoms
Cannabis for the Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Report of 3 Cases
https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/521370
This review looks at targeting the enzymes of the ECS for treating obesity
Potential of Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH), Monoacylglycerol Lipase (MAGL), and Diacylglycerol Lipase (DAGL) Enzymes as Targets for Obesity Treatment: A Narrative Review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34959715/
This series of reviews looks at the role of cannabinoids in inflammation
Role of Cannabinoids in Inflammation
https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/2/478/htm
This review looks at the studies on using cannabinoids for skin conditions
Cannabinoids for the Treatment of Dermatologic Conditions
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667026722000017
A review of targeting the ECS for treating inflammatory bowel disease
Endocannabinoid System as a Promising Therapeutic Target in Inflammatory Bowel Disease - A Systematic Review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35003109/
This review looks at the ECS & the protection of the blood-brain barrier
Endocannabinoid System of the Blood-Brain Barrier: Current Understandings and Therapeutic Potentials
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34918950/
A review by Dr Marzo et al on the biological basis of cannabinoid medicines
Biological basis of cannabinoid medicines
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34914498/
According to a large survey, women (but not men) who heavily smoke cannabis were less likely to get diabetes mellitus
Cannabis Use and Diabetes Mellitus among U.S. Adults: The National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey, 2013–2018
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/can.2021.0134
A review of patients who underwent bariatric surgery found that cannabis had no negative effects on their weight loss or rate of complications
Marijuana use does not affect weight loss or complication rate after bariatric surgery
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35024935/
In humans with cholangiocarcinoma, medical cannabis helped with quality of life & symptom scores
Comparison of effects of medicinal cannabis or standard palliative care on quality of life of patients with cholangiocarcinoma in Northeast Thailand
https://f1000research.com/articles/11-20
Preclinical Research & Cannabinoid Chemistry
In tissue cultures of liver cells, the presence of CBD helped prevent the breakdown of remdesivir (a common treatment for COVID19)
Cannabidiol Inhibits In Vitro Human Liver Microsomal Metabolism of Remdesivir: A Promising Adjuvant for COVID-19 Treatment
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34918945/
This hydrogel loaded with CBD helps bones to repair
Development and Characterization of Cannabidiol-loaded Alginate Copper Hydrogel for Repairing Open Bone Defects in vitro
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0927776522000224
In a rat model of pain, the use of NSAIDs caused pain reduction via the endorphin & endocannabinoid systems
Endogenous opioid and cannabinoid systems contribute to antinociception produced by administration of NSAIDs into the insular cortex of rats
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32916536/
In mice with pain, the use of curcumin reduced pain via the endorphin & endocannabinoid systems
Curcumin induces peripheral antinociception by opioidergic and cannabinoidergic mechanism: Pharmacological evidence
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35032552/
In mice, the CB1 receptors may be involved with the production of progesterone
Mitochondrial Localization of CB1 in Progesterone-producing Cells of Ovarian Interstitial Glands of Adult Mice
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34915761/
In skin cells, an activator of the CB2 receptor exerted anti-inflammatory effects
Cannabinoid type 2 receptor (CB2R) distribution in dermatomyositis skin and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and in vivo effects of Lenabasum TM
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34983619/
In a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease, an activator of the CB2 receptor is neuroprotective
The Neuroprotective Effects of the CB2 Agonist GW842166x in the 6-OHDA Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34944056/
In mice, the enzyme DAGla (which produces 2-AG) is found to regulate adult neurogenesis (growth of new brain cells)
Regulation of adult neurogenesis by the endocannabinoid-producing enzyme diacylglycerol lipase alpha (DAGLa)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35022487/
As we often mention, this is rather fantastic. Up until recently, scientists didn’t believe that the human brain generated new brain cells during adulthood. You just made due with what you had by the age of two. But now we know that certain areas like the hippocampus, a key memory area, is constantly generating new brain cells. And the endocannabinoid system is a key regulator of this key process.
In male rats using cocaine, changes occurred in their CB1 receptor levels in brain areas related to rewards
Hippocampal Cannabinoid 1 Receptors Are Modulated Following Cocaine Self-administration in Male Rats
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35032317/
In a mouse model of Dravet syndrome, the cannabinoid precursor olivetolic acid causes an anticonvulsant effect
Olivetolic acid, a cannabinoid precursor in Cannabis sativa, but not CBGA methyl ester exhibits a modest anticonvulsant effect in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome
https://jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42238-021-00113-w
This look at the CB2 receptors of parrots finds that they help with neuroinflammation (as well as intriguing backstory on the evolution)
Revealing genomic changes responsible for cannabinoid receptor loss in parrots: mechanism and functional effects