Inflammatory Bowel Responds to THCA

“With increased interest in the benefits of THCA which, unlike THC, is NON PSYCHOACTIVE, comes this study involving GPR55 receptors in the colon. The evidence of the role of cannabinoids in Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis continues to point towards a therapeutic potential of cannabis for these difficult conditions.”

- Dr. David Hepburn

Abstract:

The anti-inflammatory activity of C. Sativa extracts was studied on three lines of epithelial cells and on colon tissue. C. sativa flowers were extracted with ethanol, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the level of interleukin-8 in colon cells and tissue biopsies, chemical analysis was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance and gene expression was determined by quantitative real-time PCR.

Read the full article here:

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/can.2017.0027

Dr. Dave Hepburn website: https://doctordavidhepburn.com

Liverwort As A Legal High - Dr. David Hepburn

"Not only do the various cannabinoids in the cannabis plant act on many different receptors besides our cannabis receptors (CB1R and CB2R) throughout our body, but many other plants produce cannabinomimetics that act on our CB1R and CB2R, in the brain, bones, gut and elsewhere. It’s a busy, complicated network of receptors, ligands and exogenous compounds that are able to have a multitude of effects on our body, some for good and some for.... “good” if you want to be stoned."

-Dr. David Hepburn    

Recommended by Dr. David Hepburn:

Uncovering the psychoactivity of a cannabinoid from liverworts associated with a legal high.

Abstract

Phytochemical studies on the liverwort Radula genus have previously identified the bibenzyl (-)-cis-perrottetinene (cis-PET), which structurally resembles (-)-Δ9-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-trans-THC) from Cannabis sativa L. Radula preparations are sold as cannabinoid-like legal high on the internet, even though pharmacological data are lacking. 

Herein, we describe a versatile total synthesis of (-)-cis-PET and its (-)-trans diastereoisomer and demonstrate that both molecules readily penetrate the brain and induce hypothermia, catalepsy, hypolocomotion, and analgesia in a CB1 receptor-dependent manner in mice. The natural product (-)-cis-PET was profiled on major brain receptors, showing a selective cannabinoid pharmacology. This study also uncovers pharmacological differences between Δ9-THC and PET diastereoisomers. Most notably, (-)-cis-PET and (-)-trans-PET significantly reduced basal brain prostaglandin levels associated with Δ9-trans-THC side effects in a CB1 receptor-dependent manner, thus mimicking the action of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol. 

Therefore, the natural product (-)-cis-PET is a psychoactive cannabinoid from bryophytes, illustrating the existence of convergent evolution of bioactive cannabinoids in the plant kingdom. Our findings may have implications for bioprospecting and drug discovery and provide a molecular rationale for the reported effects upon consumption of certain Radula preparations as moderately active legal highs.

To read the full article please visit:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30397641

Dr. Dave Hepburn website:https://doctordavidhepburn.com

CBD could reverse brain aging - Dr. Dave Hepburn

Article recommend by Dr. Dave Hepburn:

Antiapoptotic effects of cannabidiol in an experimental model of cognitive decline induced by brain iron overload

Abstract: 

Iron accumulation in the brain has been recognized as a common feature of both normal aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Cognitive dysfunction has been associated to iron excess in brain regions in humans. We have previously described that iron overload leads to severe memory deficits, including spatial, recognition, and emotional memory impairments in adult rats. In the present study we investigated the effects of neonatal iron overload on proteins involved in apoptotic pathways, such as Caspase 8, Caspase 9, Caspase 3, Cytochrome c, APAF1, and PARP in the hippocampus of adult rats, in an attempt to establish a causative role of iron excess on cell death in the nervous system, leading to memory dysfunction. Cannabidiol (CBD), the main non-psychotropic component of Cannabis sativa, was examined as a potential drug to reverse iron-induced effects on the parameters analyzed. Male rats received vehicle or iron carbonyl (30 mg/kg) from the 12th to the 14th postnatal days and were treated with vehicle or CBD (10 mg/kg) for 14 days in adulthood. Iron increased Caspase 9, Cytochrome c, APAF1, Caspase 3 and cleaved PARP, without affecting cleaved Caspase 8 levels. CBD reversed iron-induced effects, recovering apoptotic proteins Caspase 9, APAF1, Caspase 3 and cleaved PARP to the levels found in controls. These results suggest that iron can trigger cell death pathways by inducing intrinsic apoptotic proteins. The reversal of iron-induced effects by CBD indicates that it has neuroprotective potential through its anti-apoptotic action.

“Studies like these are why we, at Plena, are inching closer to serious consideration of using CBD as a supplement for neuro-protection in the aging population. I continue to be excited by the volume of research that points to the safe, simple yet significant benefits of CBD in many different areas to help us age optimally. Everyone should have the chance to die young….at an old age." 

Dr. Dave Hepburn.

To read the full article please visit:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6120904/

https://www.plena-global.com/

Dr. Dave Hepburn website:
doctordavidhepburn.com