Best of the Week...
The title says it all…
Is cannabidiolic acid an overlooked natural antioxidant? – insights from quantum chemistry calculations
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2021/nj/d1nj04771j/unauth
In humans, a 1:1 THC:CBD capsule helped with the nausea & vomiting of chemotherapy: “83% of participants preferred cannabis to placebo”
Oral THC:CBD cannabis extract for refractory chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase II crossover trial
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32801017/
This review of innate immunity focuses on the PPARα nuclear receptor that controls genetic transcription & contains a special focus on PEA
The Role of PPAR Alpha in the Modulation of Innate Immunity
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34638886/
Clinical Studies & Reviews of CBD & the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
In humans consuming CBD, they saw no negative effects on working memory
Cannabidiol Does Not Cause Significant Changes to Working Memory Performance in the N-Back Task
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/14/11/1165
In humans, THC affected various emotional & attentional scores while CBD did not
Effects of Cannabidiol and Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol on Emotion, Cognition, and Attention: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Experimental Trial in Healthy Volunteers
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33304282/
This review focuses on how targeting the CB2 receptor is attractive for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases
Interplay Between Endocannabinoid System and Neurodegeneration: Focus on Polypharmacology
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34781863/
In humans vaping THC, CBD did not prevent the THC’s impairment on driving
Cannabidiol (CBD) content in vaporized cannabis does not prevent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-induced impairment of driving and cognition
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31044290/
In humans, the positive effects of hemp oil on the skin
Enhanced Skin Performance of Emulgel vs. Cream as Systems for Topical Delivery of Herbal Actives (Immortelle Extract and Hemp Oil)
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/13/11/1919
In orthopedic patients, medical cannabis use “was associated with clinical improvements in pain, function, and quality of life with reductions in prescription drug use”
Perceived Efficacy, Reduced Prescription Drug Use, and Minimal Side Effects of Cannabis in Patients with Chronic Orthopedic Pain
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34767730/
An app-based survey finds insomnia relief for cannabis users
Effectiveness of Raw, Natural Medical Cannabis Flower for Treating Insomnia under Naturalistic Conditions
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29997343/
This review looks at the presence of the ECS in the eyes of primates
The Vertical and Horizontal Pathways in the Monkey Retina Are Modulated by Typical and Atypical Cannabinoid Receptors
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/11/3160/htm
Preclinical Research & Cannabinoid Chemistry
In mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell), CBD activates the mitochondrial quality control pathway PINK1/Parkin
Cannabidiol Activates PINK1-Parkin-dependent Mitophagy and Mitochondrial-derived Vesicles
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0171933521000364
In microglia cells (immune cells of the brain), CBD altered their circadian rhythm while THC did not
Cannabidiol affects circadian clock core complex and its regulation in microglia cells
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30307084/
In mice, activating the CB2 receptor helps to reduce tolerance to morphine via mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPKs)
Cannabinoid Receptor Type 2 Agonist Reduces Morphine Tolerance via Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase Phosphatase Induction and Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase Dephosphorylation
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34774714/
In mice, the ability of CB2 receptor activation to lessen pain seems to be mediated by TRPV1 receptors in the spinal column
Peripherally administered cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB 2 R) agonists lose anti-allodynic effects in TRPV1 knockout mice, while intrathecal administration leads to anti-allodynia and reduced GFAP, CCL2 and TRPV1 expression in the dorsal spinal cord and DRG
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34774500/
In a rat model of cystitis & bladder pain, activation of the cannabinoid receptor GPR18 lessened sensitivity to pain & improved bladder function - probably via the TRPV1 receptors
Activation of GPR18 by Resolvin D2 Relieves Pain and Improves Bladder Function in Cyclophosphamide-Induced Cystitis Through Inhibiting TRPV1
Analytical chemistry on how anandamide activates the TRPV1 receptor
TRPV1 Activation by Anandamide via a Unique Lipid Pathway
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00893
Two updates for this week’s crazy tech advances: using light to control the activation of endocannabinoids in cells
Genetically-targeted photorelease of endocannabinoids enables optical control of GPR55 in pancreatic β-cells
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34777770/
& real-time fluorescent sensors for tracking endocannabinoid dynamics in a call
A fluorescent sensor for spatiotemporally resolved imaging of endocannabinoid dynamics in vivo