Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract The debate on the use of cannabinoids for therapeutic purposes is constantly on the rise. This overview aimed to map the evidence on the therapeutic effects of cannabis derivatives and their synthetic analogs. Systematic reviews (SRs) of randomized trials were identified through a comprehensive search in several databases, and their methodological quality were evaluated with AMSTAR-2. The results for main outcomes are presented, prioritizing those from updated and better quality SRs. Finally, 68 SRs, addressing 37 different health conditions, were included. The methodological quality was high for eight SRs. The evidence certainty (GRADE) for the...

Abstract Ovarian cancer (OC) is the single most lethal gynecologic malignancy. Cannabis sativa is used to treat various medical conditions, and is cytotoxic to a variety of cancer types. We sought to examine the effectiveness of different combinations of cannabis compounds against OC. Cytotoxic activity was determined by XTT assay on HTB75 and HTB161 cell lines. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. Gene expression was determined by quantitative PCR and protein localization by confocal microscopy. The two most active fractions, F5 and F7, from a high Δ9–tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cannabis strain extract, and their standard mix (SM), showed cytotoxic activity against OC cells and induced cell apoptosis....

Abstract The analgesic potential of Cannabis sativa L.—based medicinal cannabis products for treatment of cancer associated chronic pains has gained increased interest in recent years. To ensure a controlled distribution of these products and investigate their therapeutic potential, several countries have established so-called pilot trials. Many doctors, however, are hesitant to prescribe medicinal cannabis primarily due to lack of research evidence regarding the products’ efficacy, safety and thus questionable dosing guidelines. This review aims to elucidate clinical research supporting administration of medicinal cannabis in cancer patients for analgesic purposes. The cannabinoids’ effects on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and its implication in pain regulation is included to...

Abstract Background/Aims: Cannabis is increasingly used in the management of pain, though minimal research exists to support its use since approval. Reduction in stigma has led to a growing interest in pharmaceutical cannabinoids as a possible treatment for lower back pain (LBP). The objective of this review was to assess the role and efficacy of cannabis and its derivatives in the management of LBP and compile global data related to the role of cannabis in the management of LBP in an aging population. Methods: A systematic review was conducted using predetermined keywords by 3 independent researchers. Predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, and 23 articles were...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Medicinal cannabis use has increased exponentially with widespread legalization around the world. Cannabis-based products are being used for numerous health conditions, often in conjunction with prescribed medications. The risk of clinically significant drug-drug interactions (DDIs) increases in this setting of polypharmacy, prompting concern among health care providers. Serious adverse events can result from DDIs, specifically those affecting CYP-mediated drug metabolism. Both cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), major constituents of cannabis, potently inhibit CYPs. Cannabis-based products contain an array of cannabinoids, many of which have limited data available regarding potential DDIs. This study assessed the inhibitory...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Recent years have yielded significant advances in our understanding of microglia, the immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS). Microglia are key players in CNS development, immune surveillance, and the maintenance of proper neuronal function throughout life. In the healthy brain, homeostatic microglia have a unique molecular signature. In neurological diseases, microglia become activated and adopt distinct transcriptomic signatures, including disease-associated microglia (DAM) implicated in neurodegenerative disorders. Homeostatic microglia synthesise the endogenous cannabinoids 2-arachidonoylglycerol and anandamide and express the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 at constitutively low levels. Upon activation, microglia significantly increase their synthesis of endocannabinoids and upregulate their expression of CB2 receptors, which promote...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Objective To examine the efficacy and safety of medical cannabis in benign essential blepharospasm (BEB). Methods This is a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. All consecutive adult BEB patients who had been treated with BTX-A injections without success between 3/2019 and 2/2020 were recruited. The study patients were randomly allocated into a treatment and a control (placebo) group in a 1:1 ratio. The treatment group used cannabis drops and the control group used cannabis oil drops during the first 6 weeks of the study, and both groups were treated with the medical cannabis drops during the...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract The use of cannabis-based products for therapeutic purposes is a reality in the field of animal health. However, although cannabis is considered safe when appropriately used by human patients, cannabis-based products can pose a risk to companion animals such as dogs, depending on their composition or route of administration. Thus, this article discusses aspects of the safety and efficacy of different cannabis-based products in dogs' treatment through an integrative review. The review was systematically performed in Medline (via Pubmed®) and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS) databases, with period restriction (between 1990 and...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Background: There are anecdotal claims on the use of Cannabis sativa L. in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, but there is a lack of scientific data to support the efficacy and safety of Cannabis sativa L. for Alzheimer’s disease. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of aerial parts of Cannabis sativa L. on the cholinesterases and β-secretase enzymes activities as one of the possible mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease. Methods: The phytochemical and heavy metal contents were analysed. The extracts were screened for acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and β-secretase activity. Cytotoxicity of extracts...

Abstract Cannabis-based terpenes are believed to modulate physiological responses to disease and alter the efficacy of cannabinoids in the so-called “entourage effect”. The monoterpene myrcene can reduce nociception produced by noxious thermal and mechanical stimuli as well as reducing acute inflammation. The current study examined the role of myrcene and cannabidiol (CBD) in controlling chronic joint inflammation and pain. Chronic arthritis was induced in male Wistar rats by intra-articular injection of Freund’s complete adjuvant into the right knee. On days 7 and 21 after arthritis induction, joint pain (von Frey hair algesiometry), inflammation (intravital microscopy, laser speckle contrast analysis) and joint histopathology were assessed....