Medical Cannabis Activity Against Inflammation: Active Compounds and Modes of Action

Summary & key facts

This paper reviews evidence that cannabis contains many active ingredients that can reduce inflammation. Lab and animal studies, and some early human studies, show that cannabis compounds such as THC, CBD, and CBG can lower inflammatory activity. The body has a system called the endocannabinoid system that helps control the immune response, and cannabis compounds can act on that system and on other targets. Researchers also find that combining plant compounds, and choosing the most active parts of the plant, can make the anti-inflammatory effect stronger. Overall, there is promise but medical use is limited by gaps in solid human research and more work is needed.

Key facts:

• Cannabis has been used for thousands of years to treat inflammation, but modern medical use is limited because we still lack solid scientific knowledge about how to use it safely and effectively.
• Scientists say the body has an endocannabinoid system, which helps control immune and inflammatory responses, and problems with this system are linked to chronic inflammation.
• Lab tests and animal studies, and a smaller number of human trials, show that whole cannabis extracts and flower can reduce inflammatory responses.
• Several individual cannabis compounds, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabigerol (CBG), have shown anti-inflammatory activity in experimental models.
• Researchers report that different cannabis compounds can work together, and that adding plant fragrances called terpenes can boost the anti-inflammatory effect.
• The authors suggest that selecting the most active plant ingredients, instead of using whole-plant extracts, could improve effects, and that future treatments might combine cannabis components with conventional drugs — but more research is needed before this is routine.

Abstract

Inflammation often develops from acute, chronic, or auto-inflammatory disorders that can lead to compromised organ function. Cannabis ( Cannabis sativa ) has been used to treat inflammation for millennia, but its use in modern medicine is hampered by a lack of scientific knowledge. Previous studies report that cannabis extracts and inflorescence inhibit inflammatory responses in vitro and in pre-clinical and clinical trials. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a modulator of immune system activity, and dysregulation of this system is involved in various chronic inflammations. This system includes cannabinoid receptor types 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2), arachidonic acid-derived endocannabinoids, and enzymes involved in endocannabinoid metabolism. Cannabis produces a large number of phytocannabinoids and numerous other biomolecules such as terpenes and flavonoids. In multiple experimental models, both in vitro and in vivo , several phytocannabinoids, including Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG), exhibit activity against inflammation. These phytocannabinoids may bind to ECS and/or other receptors and ameliorate various inflammatory-related diseases by activating several signaling pathways. Synergy between phytocannabinoids, as well as between phytocannabinoids and terpenes, has been demonstrated. Cannabis activity can be improved by selecting the most active plant ingredients (API) while eliminating parts of the whole extract. Moreover, in the future cannabis components might be combined with pharmaceutical drugs to reduce inflammation.

Topics

Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research

Categories

Health Sciences Medicine Pharmacology

Tags

Antagonist Biochemistry Cannabidiol Cannabinoid Cannabinoid receptor Cannabis Chemistry Endocannabinoid system Immunology Inflammation Medicine Pharmacology Psychiatry Receptor

Substances

Cannabis medical cannabis

Conditions & symptoms

Chronic Pain Chronic pain