Phytocannabinoids: Useful Drugs for the Treatment of Obesity? Special Focus on Cannabidiol

Abstract

Currently, an increasing number of diseases related to insulin resistance and obesity is an alarming problem worldwide. It is well-known that the above states can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. An excessive amount of triacylglycerols (TAGs) in a diet also evokes adipocyte hyperplasia and subsequent accumulation of lipids in peripheral organs (liver, cardiac muscle). Therefore, new therapeutic methods are constantly sought for the prevention, treatment and alleviation of symptoms of the above mentioned diseases. Currently, much attention is paid to Cannabis derivatives-phytocannabinoids, which interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) constituents. 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the most abundant compounds of Cannabis plants and their therapeutic application has been suggested. CBD is considered as a potential therapeutic agent due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, neuroprotective, and potential anti-obesity properties. Therefore, in this review, we especially highlight pharmacological properties of CBD as well as its impact on obesity in different tissues.

Cannabinoids Modulate Food Preference and Consumption in Drosophila Melanogaster

“…The lack of gustatory and olfactory sensory inputs in in uencing cannabinoid preference suggests a potential pharmacological effect of these compounds on metabolism in Drosophila. Phytocannabinoids have been shown to affect food intake, and can be developed as potential therapeutic agents for obesity treatment 12 . We next investigated if phytocannabinoids regulate food intake in ies.…”

“…As a neuroprotective agent, CBD has been successfully approved for treatment of epilepsy by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2018. This has opened up avenues to further study the therapeutic values of other non-psychoactive phytocannabinoids including cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabichromene (CBC) and cannabigerol (CBG) 12 . N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and 2arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) are the most important endocannabinoids in the canonical endocannabinoid system, and many studies have documented their roles in mediating physiological processes, such as neuroin ammation, pain perception and metabolism, through binding to CB1/2 receptors in mammals 6,11 .…”

Cannabinoids modulate food preference and consumption in Drosophila melanogaster

“…As a neuroprotective agent, CBD has been successfully approved for treatment of epilepsy by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2018. This has opened up avenues to further study the therapeutic values of other non-psychoactive phytocannabinoids including cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabichromene (CBC) and cannabigerol (CBG) 12 . N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) are the most important endocannabinoids in the canonical endocannabinoid system, and many studies have documented their roles in mediating physiological processes, such as neuroinflammation, pain perception and metabolism, through binding to CB1/2 receptors in mammals 6,11 .…”

Cannabinoids modulate food preference and consumption in Drosophila melanogaster

“…As a neuroprotective agent, CBD has been successfully approved for treatment of epilepsy by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2018. This has opened up avenues to further study the therapeutic values of other non-psychoactive phytocannabinoids including cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabichromene (CBC) and cannabigerol (CBG) 12 . N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) are the most important endocannabinoids in the canonical endocannabinoid system, and many studies have documented their roles in mediating physiological processes, such as neuroinflammation, pain perception and metabolism, through binding to CB1/2 receptors in mammals 6 , 11 .…”