Cannabis as a Source of Approved Drugs: A New Look at an Old Problem

Abstract

Cannabis plants have been used in medicine since ancient times. They are well known for their anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anti-cancer, anti-oxidative, anti-microbial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal activities. A growing body of evidence indicates that targeting the endocannabinoid system and various other receptors with cannabinoid compounds holds great promise for addressing multiple medical conditions. There are two distinct avenues in the development of cannabinoid-based drugs. The first involves creating treatments directly based on the components of the cannabis plant. The second involves a singular molecule strategy, in which specific phytocannabinoids or newly discovered cannabinoids with therapeutic promise are pinpointed and synthesized for future pharmaceutical development and validation. Although the therapeutic potential of cannabis is enormous, few cannabis-related approved drugs exist, and this avenue warrants further investigation. With this in mind, we review here the medicinal properties of cannabis, its phytochemicals, approved drugs of natural and synthetic origin, pitfalls on the way to the widespread clinical use of cannabis, and additional applications of cannabis-related products.

What is the role of microbial biotechnology and genetic engineering in medicine?

“…Antiviral drugs can treat a range of viruses, including Herpes simplex virus, Varicella‐zoster virus, Cytomegalovirus, Human immunodeficiency virus, Influenza A and B viruses, Respiratory syncytial virus, Hepatitis B and C viruses, Adenovirus, and Papillomavirus (Murray et al, 2021 ). With current advances in the fields of metagenomics and bioinformatics, it is expected that natural products (either from plant or microbial origin) will also play a central role in the discovery and development of new antiviral drugs in the near future (Aggarwal et al, 2023 ; Gabarin et al, 2023 ; Gabbianelli et al, 2023 ).…”

Cannabinoids’ Role in Modulating Central and Peripheral Immunity in Neurodegenerative Diseases

“…The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an important multifunctional part of the nervous system and some peripheral tissues; its main components are cannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors (CBRs), and various proteins [ 2 , 4 , 6 ]. Its function is connected to numerous processes such as pain, food intake, energy metabolism, inflammation, immunity, and gastrointestinal, hormonal, and cardiovascular activities, and so on [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ].…”

“…Unfortunately, neurodegenerative diseases currently cannot be cured. Their mechanisms of protection are complex and involve receptors in the brain but also in immune cells; many preclinical studies demonstrated the excellent potential of various cannabinoids in the case of neurodegenerative diseases [4]. They are effective neuroprotective compounds because they engage both receptors in the brain and immune cells [140].…”

“…Various pharmacological properties of cannabinoids were reported [ 4 ]; among other things, they are effective anti-inflammatory or immune-suppressive agents, according to preclinical findings. Furthermore, cannabinoids are promising mediators for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, depression, cancer, and so on [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ] according to clinical studies, but they have many undesirable side effects, for example, heart disorders, anxiety, possible loss of motor coordination, and impaired memory [ 4 , 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”

Spent Material Extractives from Hemp Hydrodistillation as an Underexplored Source of Antimicrobial Cannabinoids

“…In an attempt to find uses for the above-mentioned by-products that could arise from hemp flower hydrodistillation, this study evaluated the phytochemical profile and antimicrobial activity of several post-distillation extracts in comparison to the essential oil and total extract obtained from unprocessed hemp flowers. Besides our ongoing multi-team research efforts to find novel naturally derived chemotherapeutic agents for further use in treating human infections, our interest in screening hemp’s antibacterial and antifungal properties has also been motivated by several preliminary reports that scarcely explored the inhibitory properties of hemp extracts and purified cannabinoids against Gram-positive bacteria, yeasts, and certain Gram-negative bacteria [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. Thus, this work aimed to obtain a hydrodistilled hemp flower essential oil and use the remaining by-products (e.g., spent material, residual distillation water) as an underexplored source of cannabinoids for a further assessment of their antibacterial and antifungal properties.…”