ABSTRACT: This themed section of BJP arises from the 6th European Workshop on Cannabinoid Research held in Dublin, Ireland from 18–20 April 2013. The section brings together 3 reviews and 10 research articles, presenting a range of work across the cannabinoid field. The review article by Fagan et al. (2014) addresses the impact of endogenous, plant-derived and synthetic ... Continue Reading
Inflammation
STUDY: Plant cannabinoids: a neglected pharmacological treasure trove
ABSTRACT: Most of the cannabinoids in Cannabis sativa L. have not been fully evaluated for their pharmacological activity. A publication in this issue presents evidence that a plant cannabinoid, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin is a potent antagonist of anandamide, a major endogenous cannabinoid. It seems possible that many of the non-psychoactive constituents of this plant will be ... Continue Reading
STUDY: Endocannabinoid signaling in microglial cells
ABSTRACT: The endocannabinoid signaling system (eCBSS) is composed of cannabinoid (CB) receptors, their endogenous ligands (the endocannabinoids, eCB) and the enzymes that produce and inactivate these ligands. Neurons use this signaling system to communicate with each other and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychotropic ingredient of Cannabis sativa, induces ... Continue Reading
STUDY: Cannabinoid Receptor 2 Suppresses Leukocyte Inflammatory Migration by Modulating the JNK/c-Jun/Alox5 Pathway
ABSTRACT: Inflammatory migration of immune cells is involved in many human diseases. Identification of molecular pathways and modulators controlling inflammatory migration could lead to therapeutic strategies for treating human inflammation-associated diseases. The role of cannabinoid receptor type 2 (Cnr2) in regulating immune function had been widely investigated, but the ... Continue Reading
STUDY: Inhibitory effect of cannabichromene, a major non-psychotropic cannabinoid extracted from Cannabis sativa, on inflammation-induced hypermotility in mice
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Cannabichromene (CBC) is a major non-psychotropic phytocannabinoid that inhibits endocannabinoid inactivation and activates the transient receptor potential ankyrin-1 (TRPA1). Both endocannabinoids and TRPA1 may modulate gastrointestinal motility. Here, we investigated the effect of CBC on mouse intestinal motility in physiological and ... Continue Reading