Therapeutic Effects of Cannabinoids and Their Applications in COVID-19 Treatment

Abstract

Cannabis sativa is one of the first medicinal plants used by humans. Its medical use remains controversial because it is a psychotropic drug whose use has been banned. Recently, however, some countries have approved its use, including for recreational and medical purposes, and have allowed the scientific study of its compounds. Cannabis is characterized by the production of special types of natural products called phytocannabinoids that are synthesized exclusively by this genus. Phytocannabinoids and endocannabinoids are chemically different, but both pharmacologically modulate CB1, CB2, GRP55, GRP119 and TRPV1 receptor activities, involving activities such as memory, sleep, mood, appetite and motor regulation, pain sensation, neuroinflammation, neurogenesis and apoptosis. Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are phytocannabinoids with greater pharmacological potential, including anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and anticonvulsant activities. Cannabidiol is showing promising results for the treatment of COVID-19, due to its capability of acting on the unleashed cytokine storm, on the proteins necessary for both virus entry and replication and on the neurological consequences of patients who have been infected by the virus. Here, we summarize the latest knowledge regarding the advantages of using cannabinoids in the treatment of COVID-19.

Cannabis sativa L.: A Comprehensive review on legislation, decriminalization, phytochemistry, antimicrobial activity, and safety

“…Recently, Rull et al (2023) [ 9 ] published a review of the history of C. sativa , and Schanknecht et al, (2023) [ 10 ] presented scientific evidence of the utilization of cannabis in the treatment of melanoma. Other review articles have reported on the impact of cannabinoids on the central nervous system, COVID-19 treatment, and the methodology of detection and quantification of cannabis phytochemicals, as published by Madden et al (2023), Pérez et al (2022), and Zhang et al (2022) [ 11 – 13 ]. Lately, some nations (USA, Canada, Morocco, etc.)…”

Effects of inhaled cannabis high in Δ9-THC or CBD on the aging brain: A translational MRI and behavioral study

“…Central receptor targets for the effects of CBD have been described. These include GRP55, TRPV1, CB2 ( Perez et al, 2022 ), and some recent work has identified actions via either 5HT1A or CB1 in hippocampus ( Franzen et al, 2023 ). Due to the lack of similar lasting effects of THC on network strength compared to CBD, a CB1 mediated action might be unlikely to mediate the observed differences.…”

Evaluating the Efficacy of Cannabinoids in Epilepsy: A Critical Examination of Hard Evidence

“…CBD has medicinal benefits without the euphoric symptoms that THC is commonly associated with, it is frequently considered to be the more adaptable and advantageous of the two [66]. CBD, widely acknowledged for its potential therapeutic applications, finds use in treating diverse medical conditions, including epilepsy, anxiety, pain management, and inflammation [62,64]. An essential distinction lies in the fact that CBD does not induce intoxication, making it suitable for patients seeking relief without experiencing the psychoactive high associated with THC [67].…”

“…However, it was noted that the advantages of combining THC with CBD might be more limited when treating focal-onset seizures [72]. Gaston et al (2017) stated that Δ9-THC may possess analgesic properties, rendering it advantageous for treating persistent pain syndromes [62]. Due to its antiemetic qualities, it can help reduce nausea and vomiting brought on by some medical procedures, like chemotherapy [63].…”