Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Objective: To assess the efficacy and harms of adding medical cannabis to prescription opioids among people living with chronic pain. Design: Systematic review. Data sources: CENTRAL, EMBASE and MEDLINE. Main outcomes and measures: Opioid dose reduction, pain relief, sleep disturbance, physical and emotional functioning and adverse events. Study selection criteria and methods: We included studies that enrolled patients with chronic pain receiving prescription opioids and explored the impact of adding medical cannabis. We used Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation to assess the certainty of evidence for each outcome. Results: Eligible studies included five...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Cannabinoids are the major chemical constituents of the plant Cannabis sativa L. and are known to exhibit a wide range of pharmacological effects viz., psychotropic, analgesic, anticancer, antiinflammatory, antidiabetic, anticonvulsive, antibacterial and antifungal etc. The use of cannabis, cannabinoids and their products is restricted in several countries due to the high risk of misuse. Recently, cannabinoids have regained the interest of the researchers due to their therapeutic applications. Ever since the discovery of the cannabinoids, most of the studies carried out on the evaluation of their biological activities were limited to only preclinical levels. The quality of the...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Derivatives of the plant Cannabis sativa have been used for centuries for both medical and recreational purposes, as well as industrial. The first proof of its medicinal use comes from ancient China, although there is evidence of its earlier utilization in Europe and Asia. In the 19th century, European practitioners started to employ cannabis extracts to treat tetanus, convulsions, and mental diseases and, in 1851, cannabis made its appearance in the Pharmacopoeia of the United States as an analgesic, hypnotic and anticonvulsant. It was only in 1937 that the Marijuana Tax Act prohibited the use...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Introduction: Cannabinoids such as ▵-9-THC and CBD can downregulate the immune response by modulating the endocannabinoid system. This modulation is relevant for the treatment of prevalent autoimmune diseases (ADs), such as multiple sclerosis (MS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), diabetes mellitus type 1 (DMT1), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These conditions require new therapeutic options with fewer side effects for the control of the autoimmune response. Objective: to conduct a literature review of preclinical scientific evidence that supports further clinical investigations for the use of cannabinoids (natural or synthetic) as potential immunomodulators of the immune response in ADs....

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Increasing evidence suggests an essential role of the endocannabinoid system in modulating cognitive abilities, mood, stress, and sleep. The psychoactive effects of cannabis are described as euphoric, calming, anxiolytic, and sleep-inducing and positively affect the mood, but can also adversely affect therapy. The responses to cannabinoid medications depend on the patient's endocannabinoid system activity, the proportion of phytocannabinoids, the terpenoid composition, and the dose used. There is some evidence for a therapeutic use of phytocannabinoids in psychiatric conditions. THC and CBD may have opposing effects on anxiety. Current guidelines recommend caution in using THC in...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Cannabis and cannabinoid-based products are increasingly being accepted and commodified globally. Yet there is currently limited understanding of the effect of the varied cannabinoid compounds on the brain. Exogenous cannabinoids interact with the endogenous cannabinoid system that underpins vital functions in the brain and body, and they are thought to perturb key brain and cognitive function. However, much neuroimaging research has been confined to observational studies of cannabis users, without examining the specific role of the various cannabinoids (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, etc.). This review summarizes the brain structural imaging evidence to date associated with cannabis use,...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Endocannabinoid system has been extensively studied in recent decades, particularly the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, due to their important role in neuroinflammation. Among these, CB2 has gained prominence due to its selective overexpression in glial cells during neuroinflammation. In contrast to CB1 agonists, CB2 agonists have no side effects such as ataxia, hypothermia, euphoria, psychological, or addiction liabilities. CB2 and its selective agonists' above-mentioned unique properties have become a research focus in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The review discusses the neuroprotective role of CB receptors, particularly CB2, in AD, as well...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Cannabidiol is a natural herbal medicine known to protect the brain from traumatic brain injury (TBI). Here, a TBI rat model was established, with cannabidiol administered intraperitoneally at doses of 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg, 30 min before surgery and 6 h after surgery until sacrifice. Brain water content, body weight, and modified neurological severity scores were determined, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence staining, hematoxylin and eosin staining, Nissl staining, Evans-blue dye extravasation, and western blotting were performed. Results showed that cannabidiol decreased the number of aquaporin-4-positive and glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive cells. Cannabidiol also...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Cannabis ranks among the most commonly used psychotropic drugs worldwide. In the context of the global movement toward more widespread legalisation, there is a growing need toward developing a better understanding of the physiological and pathological effects. We provide an overview of the current evidence on the effects of cannabinoids on the eye. Of the identified cannabinoids, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol is recognized to be the primary psychotropic compound, and cannabidiol is the predominant nonpsychoactive ingredient. Despite demonstrating ocular hypotensive and neuroprotective activity, the use of cannabinoids as a treatment for glaucoma is limited by a large number of potential systemic and ophthalmic side effects. Anterior segment effects of cannabinoids are...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Introduction: Some cannabinoids have been identified as anti-inflammatory agents; however, their potential therapeutic or prophylactic applications remain controversial. The aim of this systematic review was to provide a timely and comprehensive insight into cannabinoid-mediated pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine responses in preclinical in vivo studies. Methods and Materials: A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Scopus. Eligible studies where cannabinoids had been evaluated for their effect on inflammation in animal models were included in the analysis. Data were extracted from 26 of 4247 eligible full text articles, and risk of bias...