Best of the Week...
In patients with autoimmune disorders, melatonin & CBD combined well to decrease autoantibody production Neuroimmune Therapy of Autoimmune Diseases with the Pineal Hormone Melatonin Plus Cannabidiol and its Effects on Auto-Antibody Secretion https://api.asclepiusopen.com/storage/articles/crn/volume4-issue1/crn-4103.pdf
A review of using CBD for cancer patients Cannabidiol on the Path from the Lab to the Cancer Patient: Opportunities and Challenges https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35337163/
This review of 25 clinical studies of cannabinoids for neurodegenerative disorders finds that CBD helps with the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s & Huntington’s disease & that synthetic cannabinoids like dronabinol helped with the dementia of Alzheimer’s, Parksinson’s & Huntington’s Cannabinoids in the management of behavioral, psychological, and motor symptoms of neurocognitive disorders: a mixed studies systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35287749/
& here’s a more general review of the mechanisms of the ECS underlying its ability to help with neurodegenerative disorders Endocannabinoid Modulation in Neurodegenerative Diseases: In Pursuit of Certainty https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35336814/
Clinical Studies & Surveys of CBD & the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
In patients with alopecia areata (spot baldness), a survey finds that they used cannabis for the stress, anxiety & depression resulting from the condition Cannabis Use among Patients with Alopecia Areata: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35300098/
In humans with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD - a genetic disorder with lots of renal cysts), they had reduced levels of anandamide & 2-AG & the researchers found that higher levels of PEA were associated with better kidney function Endocannabinoid System in Polycystic Kidney Disease https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35263737/
Recent Reviews
The Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality updated their ‘living systematic review’ on the use of THC & CBD for chronic pain
https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/products/plant-based-chronic-pain-treatment-annual-update/draft-comment
This review suggests that smoking cannabis increases someone’s risk for catching COVID-19 because of the effects on the lungs - but that the cannabinoid might also be a treatment due to their anti-inflammatory effect
Implications of Cannabis and Cannabinoid Use in COVID-19: Scoping Review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35262598/
A review looking at the antibiotic potential of the cannabinoids from the plant & ourselves
Anti-Microbial Activity of Phytocannabinoids and Endocannabinoids in the Light of Their Physiological and Pathophysiological Roles
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35277472/
A review of CBD’s heart effects Review of the Effect of Cannabidiol on the Vascular System https://www.itmedicalteam.pl/articles/review-of-the-effect-of-cannabidiol-on-the-vascular-system.pdf If you look at the heart page, you’ll see that the cannabinoid receptors tend to be at low levels in a normal human heart. But once that heart is insulted by some kind of injury, the endocannabinoid system springs into action.
A review of the anticancer properties of the cannabinoids Cannabinoids as anticancer drugs: current status of preclinical research https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35277658/
Preclinical Research & Cannabinoid Chemistry
In a model of cell membranes, the presence of CBD in membranes with low cholesterol decreased their permeability in water but in membranes with high levels of cholesterol, CBD increased water permeability Differential Interaction of Cannabidiol with Biomembranes Dependent on Cholesterol Concentration https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35298887/
In adult rats exposed to THC as adolescents, the ability of THC to reduce their pain was not altered & they imbibed less sugary water (hedonic drinking), while the female adults also displayed less sensitivity to the ability of THC to suppress activity Adolescent THC exposure: effects on pain-related, exploratory, and consummatory behaviors in adult male vs. female rats https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35266035/ On that topic, here’s a review of the gendered responses to cannabis in terms of psychiatric disorders Gender Differences in Dual Diagnoses Associated with Cannabis Use: A Review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35326345/
In mice, CB1 seems to be vital to the cerebellar cortex of their brain responding to faces
Opposing Actions of CRF-R1 and CB1 Receptor on Facial Stimulation-Induced MLI-PC Plasticity in Mouse Cerebellar Cortex
https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-1383556/v1/e536863b-201e-4e5f-9314-e1d28504bf56.pdf
Relatedly, in a rat model of aversive memories, the CB1 receptor seems to be modulating the fear response & the ability to extinguish a reaction to the fearful memory Handling and novel object recognition modulate fear response and endocannabinoid signaling in nucleus basalis magnocellularis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35266590/
In mice, 2-AG suppressed the emptying of their stomachs after a meal 2-Arachidonoyl glycerol suppresses gastric emptying via the cannabinoid receptor 1-cholecystokinin signaling pathway in mice https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35266554/
In melanoma cancer cells, anandamide (AEA) reduced glycosylation (modification of newly made proteins) & cell migration, suggesting its use as a combination therapy
Anandamide-Modulated Changes in Metabolism, Glycosylation Profile and Migration of Metastatic Melanoma Cells
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/14/6/1419
Relatedly, in bone cancer cells, CBD inhibited tumor growth, reduced cell migration & increased apoptosis (cellular suicide) Cannabidiol promotes apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells in vitro and in vivo by activating the SP1-CBX2 axis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35273722/
Ohh. Looking at some newly minted molecules that might inhibit both FAAH & MGL & this raise levels of anandamide & 2-AG (see the glossary below for definitions of these terms)
Synthesis and evaluation of dual fatty acid amide hydrolase-monoacylglycerol lipase inhibition and antinociceptive activities of 4-methylsulfonylaniline-derived semicarbazones
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35296453/
A review of technologies for THC detection Recent advances in electrochemical sensor technologies for THC detection-a narrative review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35292105/
AI to screen people for over 950 synthetic cannabinoids
Machine learning to assist in large-scale, activity-based synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist screening of serum samples