Please use this link to access publication Abstract Background: Anxiety is second most common reason for medicinal cannabis prescription in Australia and is being treated with both Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-containing and cannabidiol (CBD)-dominant products. Objective: The aim of this article is to summarise recent advances in the understanding of medicinal cannabis in treating anxiety and recent trends in prescribing. Discussion: Clinical trials and laboratory studies provide evidence of anxiolytic effects of CBD in healthy volunteers and clinical populations, although current evidence is insufficient to support CBD as a first-line treatment. The evidence regarding the use of THC-dominant products for anxiety is ambiguous, with exacerbation of...

Abstract Cannabis sativa L. is increasingly emerging for its protective role in modulating neuroinflammation, a complex process orchestrated among others by microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system. Phytocannabinoids, especially cannabidiol (CBD), terpenes, and other constituents trigger several upstream and downstream microglial intracellular pathways. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of a CBD- and terpenes-enriched C. sativa extract (CSE) in an in vitro model of neuroinflammation. We evaluated the effect of CSE on the inflammatory response induced by exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in BV-2 microglial cells, compared with CBD and β-caryophyllene (CAR), CB2 receptors (CB2r) inverse and full agonist, respectively. The LPS-induced upregulation of the...

Abstract The innate immune response to bacterial and viral molecules involves the coordinated production of cytokines, chemokines, and type I interferons (IFNs), which is orchestrated by toll-like receptors (TLRs). TLRs, and their intracellular signalling intermediates, are closely associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis. Recent data from our laboratory reported that the plant-derived cannabinoids, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), regulate viral and bacterial inflammatory signalling pathways controlled by TLR3 and TLR4 in macrophages. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of THC and CBD, when delivered in isolation and in combination (1:1), on TLR3- and TLR4-dependent signalling in peripheral blood mononuclear cells...

Abstract In light of the increased popularity of phytocannabinoids (pCBs) and their appearance in beauty products without rigorous research on their rejuvenation efficacy, we decided to investigate the potential role of pCBs in skin rejuvenation. Utilizing healthy and stress-induced premature senescent (SIPS) CCD-1064Sk skin fibroblasts, the effects of pCBs on cellular viability, functional activity, metabolic function, and nuclear architecture were tested. Both delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) within the range of 0.5 µM to 2.0 µM increased cell growth in a dose-dependent manner while significantly decreasing senescence as measured by beta-galactosidase activity. Utilizing a scratch assay, both THC and CBD (2.0 µM) significantly improved...

Abstract Loss of ovarian 17β-estradiol (E2) in postmenopause is associated with gut dysbiosis, inflammation, and increased risk of cardiometabolic disease and osteoporosis. The risk-benefit profile of hormone replacement therapy is not favorable in postmenopausal women therefore better treatment options are needed. Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychotropic phytocannabinoid extracted from hemp, has shown pharmacological activities suggesting it has therapeutic value for postmenopause, which can be modeled in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. We evaluated the efficacy of cannabidiol (25 mg/kg) administered perorally to OVX and sham surgery mice for 18 weeks. Compared to VEH-treated OVX mice, CBD-treated OVX mice had improved oral glucose tolerance, increased energy expenditure, improved whole body...

Abstract Objective We report our findings regarding effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of cannabidiol (CBD)-enriched medical cannabis as add-on therapy in children with drug-resistant epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) after a median follow-up of 20 months. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted to assess effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of CBD-enriched medical cannabis oil added to standard antiseizure medications in children with drug-resistant DEE seen at a single center. Results Between October 2018 and March 2020, 59 patients were enrolled. Mean age at enrollment was 10.5 years (range, 2–17 years). Median treatment duration was 20 months (range, 12–32). Median age at first seizure was 8 months (range,...

Abstract In late 2019, COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, China. Currently, it is an ongoing global health threat stressing the need for therapeutic compounds. Linking the virus life cycle and its interaction with cell receptors and internal cellular machinery is key to developing therapies based on the control of infectivity and inflammation. In this framework, we evaluate the combination of cannabidiol (CBD), as an anti-inflammatory molecule, and terpenes, by their anti-microbiological properties, in reducing SARS-CoV-2 infectivity. Our group settled six formulations combining CBD and terpenes purified from Cannabis sativa L, Origanum vulgare, and Thymus mastichina. The formulations were analyzed by HPLC and GC-MS and evaluated for virucide and antiviral...

Abstract Background Sepsis, caused by a dysregulated response to infections, can lead to cardiac arrhythmias. However, the mechanisms underlying sepsis-induced inflammation, and how inflammation provokes cardiac arrhythmias, are not well understood. We hypothesized that cannabidiol (CBD) may ameliorate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cardiotoxicity, via Toll-like receptors (TLR4) and cardiac sodium channels (NaV1.5). Methods and results We incubated human immune cells (THP-1 macrophages) with LPS for 24 h, then extracted the THP-1 incubation media. ELISA assays showed that LPS (1 or 5 μg·ml−1), in a concentration-dependent manner, or MPLA (TLR4 agonist, 5 μg·ml−1) stimulated the THP-1 cells to release inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6). Prior incubation (4 h) with CBD (5 μM)...

Please use this link to access publication Abstract Background One of the major complications associated with random-pattern skin flaps is distal necrosis. Cannabidiol (CBD) has recently gained much attention as a therapeutic anti-inflammatory agent. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of CBD on the random-pattern skin flap survival (SFS) in rats and to explore the possible involvement of cannabinoid type-2 (CB2) receptors. Methods In this controlled experimental study, we randomly divided male Wistar rats into seven study groups (six rats each). We performed a random-pattern skin flap model in each rat following pretreatment with vehicle (control) or multiple doses of CBD (0.3, 1, 5, or 10 mg/kg)....

Abstract Introduction This phase I open-label study examined pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of escalating doses of a novel combination cannabinoid medication (1:1 tetrahydrocannabinol [THC]/cannabidiol [CBD]) in patients with chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) on high dose opioid analgesia. Methods Nine people with CNCP and oral morphine equivalent daily dose of 60 mg or higher were recruited. Blood concentrations of THC, 11-hydroxytetrahydrocannabinol (OH-THC), 11-nor-9-carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol (COOH-THC), and CBD were assayed weekly. Concentrations were measured after a single dose of 2.5 mg THC/2.5 mg CBD on day 1, and daily escalating doses up to a single dose of 12.5 mg THC/12.5 mg CBD on day 29. Follow-up was on day 36 after a 7-day washout. Secondary outcome...