Archive for the ‘Cannabination’ Category
Thursday, August 13th, 2009
The journal of Experimental Dermatology has published a review, in which the authors point out the therapeutic possibilities of using cannabinoids to treat skin diseases.
Recent evidence has sown that cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2 are expressed in healthy and diseased skin. Therefore, a treatment targeting these receptors could prove very effective.
Where are the receptors in skin?
The CB1 receptor is located on nerves that run through out skin; large nerves fibers and even small nerve fibers associated with hair follicles have the receptors. Furthermore, previous work has demonstrated that human skin cells, epidermal kertinocytes, have the machinery to “synthesize, bind, and metabolize anandamide (AEA).” While the role of the endocannabinoid system in skin is a bit of a mystery, it appears to be important in skin cell maturation.
Cannabinoids and Inflammatory Skin Diseases
Cannabinoids may attenuate allergic responses. Mice lacking cannabinoid receptors experience more swelling and recruitment of immune cells than normal or wild-type mice. Blocking the CB2 receptor may also lead to a decrease in inflammation.
Pruritus
We all hate getting an itch, especially when it leads to intense scratching and pain. While numerous treatments are available for anti-itching regiments, none are very effective as “anti-pruritic” medicines. Thus there is a great need for new and effective medicines.
In regards to pruritus the authors discuss a study which had nearly 2500 people with atopic eczema. The patients used a cream containing the endocannabinoid N-Palmithoylethanolamide or PEA. This cream signifcantly decreased symptoms of eczema and was well tolerated.
Furthermore, another study of patients with uremic pruritus showed that a cream containing AEA and PEA eliminated all symptoms within 3weeks, in 38.1% of patients and more than half experienced significant reductions. A treatment this effective is desperately needed-60% of all dialysis patients will suffer from this potentially disabling disease. On a side note, this is the closest that AEA has EVER come to being ingested for a clinical trial…
Lastly, there is evidence that some cannabinoids may be able to inhibit malignant skin tumors. However, synthetic cannabinoids that are more potent than THC, have proven to be more effective in this regard, especially WIN-55,212-2 and JWH-133.
The authors conclude, “Possibly, in the future, cannabinoids will be widely applied to treat skin pruitus, inflammatory skin disease, and even skin cancers.”
Posted in Cannabination, Contributing Author: Jahan Marcu | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 4th, 2009
In the journal of Clincal Pyschopharmacology, a research team reports on the improvement of schizophrenic symptoms in a small group of patients who were treated with pure Delta9-THC (Marinol AKA Dronabinol). The doctors sought out patients who had chronic refractory schizophrenia and had a documented history of cannabis use. After going through about 200 patients, the doctors found a total of 6 that met the criteria.
Generally, cannabinoids are associated with the worsening of psychotic symptoms. So, why did Doctors give THC, the main ingredient in cannabis, to a group of patients who had severe cases of mental illness?
The authors write, “The idea for our use of dronabinol in this population came from the surprisingly good response of 1 patient. He was grossly psychotic, assaultive, disorganized, and highly refractory to multiple medication trials. However, in reviewing his history, we noted that he had a history of several years of calm behavior when he was using marijuana.”
After treatment with pure THC the authors note, ” Remarkably, he became calm, logical, nonviolent, and cooperative within days and was discharged within weeks. This prompted us to try dronabinol on other patients who fit this profile: having a diagnosis of chronic refractory schizophrenia, together with a history of marijuana use during which they reported some improvement.”
In regards to the safety profile of synthetic THC, the author’s comment that it “does not seem to have significant addictive potential or withdrawal in clinical practice.”
These results are remarkable patients with refractory schizophrenia because current interventions and treatments rarely succeed. These patients were also unresponsive to standard dopamine blockers, thus the abnormalities could lay in a non-dopamine system, i.e, the endocannabiod system. Perhaps the abnormalities may be related to the endocannabinoid deficiency theory. Since there is no viable treatment–there us an urgent need to find and develop medications for this patient population.
Additionally, these results go against the current accepted theory that activating the cannabinoid receptors (CB1) should worsen psychotic symptoms and blocking the receptor should improve it. Another piece of supporting evidence against this theory, comes from a clinical trial with Rimonabant, a CB1 Receptor Blocker. CB1 Blockers prevent other compunds from activating the receptor, thus limiting the activity of the receptor. The Cb1 receptor blocker did not improve symptoms.
The Doctors also site current research (1,2,3) which shows that not all cases of schizophrenia become worse after using Cannabis. It is also now being considered that vulnerability to the side effects of cannabis comes from a genetic predisposition.
The take home message is that the main ingredient of cannabis may become an effective treatment for patients with a severe mental illness. And that the Endocannabinoid system might be more important and complex than previously thought.
Posted in Cannabination, Contributing Author: Jahan Marcu | 1 Comment »
Sunday, July 26th, 2009
Two reviews (one & two) published this month highlight the emerging role of the Endocannabinoid system (ECS) as one of the most important mediators of our stress response, and further research into ECS could bring us new antidepressants and anxiolytic drugs—a few drugs are already a success in animal models!
There are two approaches to exploiting the ECS against depression and anxiety. One is developing a cannabis based medicine (pill, spray, etc) that targets the Cannabinoid Type 1 Receptor (CB1R).
The other approach utilizes our bodies own enzymes that degrade the THC-like compounds, synthesized from arachadonic acid, namely Anandamide (AEA) and 2-Arachidonyl glycerol (2-AG). This treatment requires compounds that inhibit the breakdown of AEA and 2-AG, thus raising the levels of AEA and 2-AG for the duration of the drug treatment. Normally, AEA and 2-AG are rapidly made, used, and degraded by our body.
Furthermore, AEA is the only known neurotransmitter that is synthesized on demand and it signals retroactivley or “backwards”—again it’s the first and only. Yet, if you check any recent biochemical pathway charts in medical textbooks, AEA is usually missing from the chart– nearly 20 years after it’s discovery! And AEA has NEVER been used in a clinical trial even though acetominophen, once metabolized inhibits AEA degradation! Since, one of the most widely used OTC drugs in the world works partially through the ECS, why are there no clincal trials with non-toxic AEA?
Most likely the biggest break through in depression and cannabinoid research occurred at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, when researchers gave a drug, code named “HU-210″ to rats. HU-210 is 100 to 1000x more potent than THC, depending on the experimental assay. After a few weeks of treatment, analysis of the rat brains revealed that HU-210 caused neurogenesis. Meaning the rats grew new brain cells from stem cells, and those brain cells matured into neurons. This occurred specifically in the hippocampus. The Authors speculated that this compound could be a cure for depression and this could also be considered a stem cell based therapy.
As the patents on billion-drugs (like questionably effective drugs such as SSRI’s) are near expiration, cannabinoids stand as a clear beacon of therapeutic promise. Other governments (UK, Israel, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany…) have realized this, eased cannabis research restrictions, and allowed legitimate companies to emerge which focus solely on developing and distributing cannabinoid medicines. If our governemnt waits too much longer and restrictions on cannabis research are not eased, U.S. researchers will miss out on this centuries medical breakthroughs. And that would truly be depressing…
Posted in Cannabination, Contributing Author: Jahan Marcu | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009
The Journal of Neuroendocrinology published a review last year, which suggests that oral THC may significantly reduce plaque development in diseases associated with obesity, such as atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis, a condition of plaque deposits in the lining of the arteries that results from a diet high in cholesterol, is one of the major causes of death in overweight/obesity-related disease. The plaque is created as a by-product of specific cells, called macrophages, when they consume fatty particles. As the plaque gathers, the walls of arteries become stiff and eventually collapse.
The study suggests that THC interacts directly with macrophages and suppresses their plaque-creating abilities through the Cannabinoid Type II receptor (CB2R). Immune cells in our body, such as macrophages, have many more cannabinoid receptors expressed on their surface – this makes them an exceptionally strong target for cannabis-based medicines.
The authors note that oral administration of low doses of THC resulted in significant inhibition of plaque development, an effect that could be reversed by blocking the CB2R.
What does this mean for humans? It is difficult to say without further research. But the results are hopeful. Given the politics surrounding cannabis, it might be a long while before the FDA approves a study in humans on cannabis and atherosclerosis. On the other hand, research such as this shows not only that we have only begun to investigate the healing potential of this remarkable natural compound, but the importance of advocating for a more open environment for future research.
Posted in Cannabination | 1 Comment »
Saturday, July 18th, 2009
On the first day of the ICRS meeting, Dr. Nagarkatti presented research which demonstrates that THC can reduce organ donor rejection by reducing “Graft vs. Host Diseases.”
Even in HLA matched organ donors, at least 50% experience a severe immune response to the donated tissue. When this happens, inflammation occurs and patients begin wasting away. THC prevents weight loss and suppresses the immune response against the tissue.
Many people have been removed from organ recipient lists for using cannabis, even for instances where it was approved by a physician. How morbidly ironic that our medical care system will deny a medical marijuana user an organ they need to live, when THC may improve your chances of a maintaining your organ transplant. As cannabinoids gain acceptance into the clinic, THC (or synthetic versions thereof) could become mandatory for organ recipients.
Why are marijuana users kicked off of organ recipeint lists? well no one is really sure–probably something regarding the DEA and politics but definitely not science.
The full text is available for purchase through scientific literature websites.
Posted in Cannabination | 2 Comments »
Sunday, July 12th, 2009
A recent scientific publication from a lab in the UK has established a link between migraines and mutations in the Cannabinoid Type 1 receptor (CB1R aka The”Pot receptor”). Researchers extracted DNA from individuals who were surveyed and reported suffering from migraines. The researchers found the 1st direct evidence that an isoform or mutant form of CB1R can make you susceptible to migraines.
Previous studies have shown that the natural THC our body makes, anandamide, has migraine preventative actions (on the trigeminal nerve).
CB1R antagonists (things that block the receptor) reverse this protective effect. Thus, there is significant data suggesting that the CB1R is involved with migraines.
Interestingly, the International Headache Society has yet to classify or identify any migraine-related genes despite intense research into the subject.
Posted in Cannabination | No Comments »
Friday, July 10th, 2009
GW Pharmaceuticals announced plans to expand their research agenda by investigating the therapeutic potential of new cannabis-ethanol sprays into the realm of metabolic diseases such as Obesity and Type II Diabetes.
For this project, GW is teaming up with Mike Cawthorne, the group director of the research team that “discovered the multi-billion dollar insulin sensitizer drug, Rosigilatzone.”
The new cannabis spray will be extracted from plants which contain high amounts of CBD and THCV. CBD has shown potential to treat fatty liver diseases and hpercholesterolaemia and also blocks the psychoactive effects of Delta9-THC. THCV, a natural antagonist or Cannabinoid receptor blocker, has notable effects on increasing energy expenditure. THCV, unlike Delta9-THC, is usually present only in small concentrations on the plant. However, GW may have developed a so called THCV-rich cannabis plant.
Developing a treatment for a complex illness, such as metabolic syndrome, can be explored using two cannabinoids in combination and can potentially “be addressed with a single medicine.”
Posted in Cannabination | No Comments »
