Cannabidiol May Fight Alzheimer's Disease in Petri Dishes

The compounds in the Cannabis plant can affect brain cells in different ways. For decades scientists have exploited these plant compounds for therapeutic uses. Last week, a recent research article on how a specific Cannabiscompound may fight Alzheimer’s disease was presented at Temple University’s Cannabinoid Discussion Group meeting.

The research was conducted using Cannabidiol (CBD) which is the second most abundant cannabinoid found in the Cannabis plant. CBD is not considered to be psychoactive, as the compound does not interact with any known cannabinoid receptors. Due to the medical properties of this compound, it has become of interest to medical cannabis patients.

The researchers used petri dish models of Alzheimer’s disease to demonstrate the effectiveness of CBD. The petri model simulated the effects of dead neurons by adding ATP, a compound which is released when brain cells die, to the petri dish. CBD was able to reduce ATP stimulated changes by as much as 25%. The authors also published data demonstrating how CBD can inhibit microglial cellactivation, and thus inhibit this part of Alzheimer’s disease progression.

The second major finding of the paper demonstrated that CBD may act at adenosine receptors. The effects of CBD were mimicked by CGS21680, a drug which is known to activate adenosine receptors (Previous research has also shown that CBD can interact with serotonin receptors). Additionally, the effects of CBD were blocked by ZM241385, a drug which blocks the adenosine receptor from being activated. Lastly, the effects of CBD were also reduced by the CB2 receptor Inverse agonist, SR144528.

In agreement with previous work, CBD remains a promising therapeutic approach to neurological diseases.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for medical diagnosis or treatment recommendations.

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