Thursday, March 2, 2023

Cannabis: The Future of Epilepsy and Cancer Treatment

Endocannabinoids and cannabinoids questions have risen on a large scale in the past few years. Along with questions have risen distinct types of research. The goal has continued to be discovering what cannabinoids can do, how they can help, and how they can negatively affect the human body. Cannabinoids are compounds that come from the cannabis plant. Endocannabinoids are produced endogenously, meaning they are produced naturally inside the human body. Both have recently been found to help modulate and regulate distinct biological functions.  


In this paper by Scheyer et al., the different effects cannabinoids have on health were discussed. These included the effects on stress regulation, episodic memory, spatial memory, epilepsy, seizures, obesity, energy, neurodevelopment disorders, autism, and substance use disorders. It was found that eCB has had a substantial influence on the control of epileptic seizures. It was stated that eCB has a positive effect in different areas of the brain such as the temporal lobe and the hippocampus (Scheyer et al. 2023). Epileptiform activity and seizure were significantly decreased by the presence of eCBs, making it a possible option for seizure disorders treatment. 


In this paper by Laezza et al., we learn about cannabinoids and endocannabinoids that trigger distinct types of pathways in the central nervous system. One of these pathways being cancer-related signaling pathways. It was found that cannabinoids often behave as a modulator in cancer related signaling pathways. Some of the major components of cancer spreading are invasion, migration, metastasis mechanism, and angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is the physiological process in which new blood vessels are formed from other vessels. Angiogenesis is an important process for tissue growth. However, it also happens to play a significant role in assisting with tumor growth. It was found that cannabinoids are inhibitors of angiogenesis, a process that then leads to inducing the release of TIMP-1, a tissue inhibitor (Laezza et al. 2020). Then, exhibiting the antitumor potential of cannabinoids. Although there is many more research to be done on cannabinoids, this research highlights that cannabinoids could potentially be a treatment for cancer and tumor growth.  


Endocannabinoids and cannabinoids have become a topic of focus in the past few years. Although there is yet to be enough research to prove their effects in their totality, there is various research so far that can allow us to conclude that endocannabinoids and cannabinoids could potentially be used as treatment against diseases like cancer and epilepsy. 

 

 

 

 

 

References: 


Scheyer, A., Yasmin, F., Naskar, S., & Patel, S. (2023). Endocannabinoids at the synapse and beyond: implications for neuropsychiatric disease pathophysiology and treatment. Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology48(1), 37–53. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-022-01438-7 

 

Laezza, C.; Pagano, C.; Navarra, G.; Pastorino, O.; Proto, M.C.; Fiore, D.; Piscopo, C.; Gazzerro, P.; Bifulco, M. The Endocannabinoid System: A Target for Cancer Treatment. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 202021, 747. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21030747 

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