Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main phytocannabinoid present in the Cannabis sativa. It can produce dose-dependent anxiolytic or anxiogenic effects in males. THC effects on anxiety have scarcely been studied in females, despite their higher prevalence of anxiety disorders. Cannabidiol, another phytocannabinoid, has been reported to attenuate anxiety and some THC-induced effects. The present study aimed to investigate the behavioral and neurochemical effects of THC administered alone or combined with CBD in naturally cycling female rats tested in the elevated plus-maze. Systemically administered THC produced biphasic effects in females, anxiolytic at low doses (0.075 or 0.1...

Abstract Cannabidiol (CBD), the major nonpsychoactive Cannabis constituent, has been proposed for the treatment of a wide panel of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, including anxiety, schizophrenia, epilepsy and drug addiction due to the ability of its versatile scaffold to interact with diverse molecular targets that are not restricted to the endocannabinoid system. Albeit the molecular mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic effects of CBD have yet to be fully elucidated, many efforts have been devoted in the last decades to shed light on its complex pharmacological profile. In particular, an ever-increasing number of molecular targets linked to those disorders have been identified for this phytocannabinoid,...

Abstract Background Use of cannabidiol (CBD), the primary non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis, has recently risen dramatically, while relatively little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms of its effects. Previous work indicates that direct CBD exposure strongly impacts the brain, with anxiolytic, antidepressant, antipsychotic, and other effects being observed in animal and human studies. The epigenome, particularly DNA methylation, is responsive to environmental input and can direct persistent patterns of gene regulation impacting phenotype. Epigenetic perturbation is particularly impactful during embryogenesis, when exogenous exposures can disrupt critical resetting of epigenetic marks and impart phenotypic effects lasting into adulthood. The impact of prenatal CBD...

Abstract Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicating phytocannabinoid whose purported therapeutic benefits and impression of a high safety profile has promoted its increasing popularity. CBD’s popularity is also increasing among children and adolescents who are being administered CBD, off label, for the treatment of numerous symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, and depression. The relative recency of its use in the adolescent population has precluded investigation of its impact on the developing brain and the potential consequences that may present in adulthood. Therefore, there’s an urgency to identify whether prolonged adolescent CBD exposure has substantive impacts on the developing brain...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19)-related anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are likely to be a significant long-term issue emerging from the current pandemic. We hypothesize that cannabidiol (CBD), a chemical isolated from Cannabis sativa with reported anxiolytic properties, could be a therapeutic option for the treatment of COVID-19-related anxiety disorders. In the global over-the-counter CBD market, anxiety, stress, depression, and sleep disorders are consistently the top reasons people use CBD. In small randomized controlled clinical trials, CBD (300–800 mg) reduces anxiety in healthy volunteers, patients with social anxiety disorder, those at clinical...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Cannabidiol (CBD), a phytocannabinoid compound, presents antidepressant and anxiolytic-like effects in the type-1 diabetes mellitus(DM1) animal model. Although the underlying mechanism remains unknown, the type-1A serotonin receptor (5-HT1A) and cannabinoids type-1 (CB1) and type-2 (CB2) receptors seem to play a central role in mediating the beneficial effects on emotional responses. We aimed to study the involvement of these receptors on an antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects of CBD and on some parameters of the diabetic condition itself. After 2 weeks of the DM1 induction in male Wistar rats by streptozotocin (60 mg/kg; i.p.), animals were treated...

Abstract Cannabidiol (CBD) is the most abundant non-psychoactive component of cannabis; it displays a very low affinity for cannabinoid receptors, facilitates endocannabinoid signaling by inhibiting the hydrolysis of anandamide, and stimulates both transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 and 2 and serotonin type 1A receptors. Since CBD interacts with a wide variety of molecular targets in the brain, its therapeutic potential has been investigated in a number of neuropsychiatric diseases, including anxiety and mood disorders. Specifically, CBD has received growing attention due to its anxiolytic and antidepressant properties. As a consequence, and given its safety profile, CBD is considered a promising new agent in the...

Abstract Background The use of cannabidiol (CBD) has grown rapidly over the last few years. CBD has been purported to work on a range of conditions, including anxiety, pain, and psychosis. There has been recent interest in CBD as a treatment for age-related cognitive disorders due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Method Here, we tested the effects of chronic CBD administration on learning and memory in the SAMP8 mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. SAMP8 mice develop an age-related impairment in learning and memory which corresponds to an increase in amyloid-β (Aβ), hyperphosphorylated tau, oxidative stress, impaired efflux of Aβ across the blood-brain barrier...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Background Cannabidiol (CBD), a major nonintoxicating constituent of cannabis, exhibits anxiolytic properties in preclinical and human studies and is of interest as a novel intervention for treating anxiety disorders. Existing first-line pharmacotherapies for these disorders include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and other antidepressants. Cannabidiol has well-described inhibitory action on cytochrome P450 (CYP450) drug-metabolizing enzymes and significant drug-drug interactions (DDIs) between CBD and various anticonvulsant medications (eg, clobazam) have been described in the treatment of epilepsy. Here, we examined the likelihood of DDIs when CBD is added to medications prescribed in the treatment of anxiety. Methods...

Abstract Background Public and medical interest in cannabidiol (CBD) has been rising, and CBD is now available from various sources. Research into the effects of low-dose CBD on outcomes like stress, anxiety, and sleep problems have been scarce, so we conducted an online survey of CBD users to better understand patterns of use, dose, and self-perceived effects of CBD. Methods The sample consisted of 387 current or past-CBD users who answered a 20-question online survey. The survey was sent out to CBD users through email databases and social media. Participants reported basic demographics, CBD use patterns, reasons for use, and effects on anxiety, sleep,...