Possible Role of Cannabis in the Management of Neuroinflammation in Patients with Post-COVID Condition

Abstract

The post-COVID condition (PCC) is a pathology stemming from COVID-19, and studying its pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment is crucial. Neuroinflammation causes the most common manifestations of this disease including headaches, fatigue, insomnia, depression, anxiety, among others. Currently, there are no specific management proposals; however, given that the inflammatory component involves cytokines and free radicals, these conditions must be treated to reduce the current symptoms and provide neuroprotection to reduce the risk of a long-term neurodegenerative disease. It has been shown that cannabis has compounds with immunomodulatory and antioxidant functions in other pathologies. Therefore, exploring this approach could provide a viable therapeutic option for PCC, which is the purpose of this review. This review involved an exhaustive search in specialized databases including PubMed, PubChem, ProQuest, EBSCO, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Clinical Trials. Phytocannabinoids, including cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), and Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), exhibit significant antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties and have been shown to be an effective treatment for neuroinflammatory conditions. These compounds could be promising adjuvants for PCC alone or in combination with other antioxidants or therapies. PCC presents significant challenges to neurological health, and neuroinflammation and oxidative stress play central roles in its pathogenesis. Antioxidant therapy and cannabinoid-based approaches represent promising areas of research and treatment for mitigating adverse effects, but further studies are needed.

Cannabinoids: Potential for Modulation and Enhancement When Combined with Vitamin B12 in Case of Neurodegenerative Disorders

“…These interactions modulate signaling pathways, exhibiting anti-inflammatory properties by dampening immune responses and mitigating neuroinflammation—a promising avenue for treating chronic inflammatory conditions like neurodegenerative diseases. Neuroprotection is another notable cannabinoid effect, with several factors, including Δ9-THC counteracting the breakdown of tryptophan and improving conditions related to inflammation as well as showing strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties advantageous in alleviating neuronal inflammation [ 49 , 50 ]; CBD exhibiting anti-inflammatory effects in a mouse model of AD induced by injection of human Aβ into the hippocampus as well as properties of reducing Aβ-induced GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) mRNA, inducible NOS (iNOS) and interleukin IL-1β protein expression [ 51 ] and protecting against amphetamine-induced oxidative damage and increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in a rat model of mania [ 52 ]; CBG predominantly exerting anti-inflammatory effects in vivo or have the ability to stimulate the degradation and removal of preformed, aggregated Aβ from neurons [ 53 , 54 , 55 ]; and THCV [ 56 ] indirectly and potentially (since THCV is an inverse agonist/selective antagonist of the CB1 receptor, it is similar to rimonabant but it does not have the identified adverse effects of rimonabant, and, in parallel, obesity-associated alterations in gut microbiota composition and function contribute to neuroinflammation, implicating a microbiological link between metabolic dysfunction and neurological consequences) implicated in safeguarding neuronal function (neuroprotection). Particularly, CBG demonstrates anti-inflammatory potential in preclinical models, distinct from CBD’s antagonistic affinity for GPR55, a GPCR involved in cellular processes like proliferation and differentiation.…”