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Moore CF, Marusich J, Haghdoost M, Lefever TW, Bonn-Miller MO, Weerts EM. Evaluation of the Modulatory Effects of Minor Cannabinoids and Terpenes on Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Discrimination in Rats. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2023; 8:S42-S50. [PMID: 37721992 DOI: 10.1089/can.2023.0062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Cannabis contains a multitude of phytocannabinoids and terpenes in addition to its main psychoactive constituent, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (D9-THC). It is believed that the combination of minor cannabinoids and terpenes with D9-THC may impact the subjective and physiological effects of D9-THC. In this study, select minor cannabinoids (cannabigerol [CBG], cannabidivarin [CBDV], cannabichromene [CBC], tetrahydrocannabivarin [THCV], cannabigerolic acid [CBGa], and cannabidiolic acid [CBDa]) and terpenes (beta-caryophyllene and linalool) were evaluated for their potential to decrease the interoceptive effects of D9-THC using drug discrimination methods. Materials and Methods: Male and female rats (n=16; 50% female) were trained to discriminate D9-THC from vehicle. Following training, D9-THC was administered 45 min pre-session, followed by administration of a minor cannabinoid or terpene (or vehicle) 15 min pre-session. CBG, CBDV, CBC, and THCV were administered at doses of 3-30 mg/kg; CBGa and CBDa were administered at doses of 10-100 mg/kg; beta-caryophyllene and linalool were administered at doses of 10-30 mg/kg. Percentage of D9-THC responding (%) was calculated to assess changes to D9-THCs interoceptive effects. Results: CBG, CBDV, CBC, THCV, CBGa, CBDa, beta-caryophyllene, and linalool had little effect on percent D9-THC responding in either sex. No compounds lowered percent D9-THC responding to 50% or below. THCV, CBC, CBDa, and beta-caryophyllene in combination with D9-THC decreased response rates compared with D9-THC alone. Conclusions: The minor cannabinoids and terpenes examined in the current study did not alter the discriminative stimulus effects of D9-THC. These results suggest that these compounds are unlikely to lower the psychoactive effects of D9-THC in human users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine F Moore
- Division of Behavioral Biology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Julie Marusich
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | | | | | | | - Elise M Weerts
- Division of Behavioral Biology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Kwiecień E, Kowalczuk D. Therapeutic Potential of Minor Cannabinoids in Dermatological Diseases-A Synthetic Review. Molecules 2023; 28:6149. [PMID: 37630401 PMCID: PMC10459035 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28166149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Dermatological diseases pose a significant burden on the quality of life of individuals and can be challenging to treat effectively. In this aspect, cannabinoids are gaining increasing importance due to their therapeutic potential in various disease entities including skin diseases. In this synthetic review, we comprehensively analyzed the existing literature in the field of potential dermatological applications of a lesser-known subgroup of cannabinoids, the so-called minor cannabinoids, such as cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabidiforol (CBDP), cannabichromene (CBC), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabielsoin (CBE), cannabimovone (CBM) or cannabinol (CBN), while drawing attention to their unique pharmacological properties. We systematically searched the available databases for relevant studies and analyzed the data to provide an overview of current thematic knowledge. We looked through the full-text, bibliographic and factographic databases, especially Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Polish Scientific Journals Database, and selected the most relevant papers. Our review highlights that minor cannabinoids exhibit diverse pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, and anti-itch properties. Several studies have reported their efficacy in mitigating symptoms associated with dermatological diseases such as psoriasis, eczema, acne, and pruritus. Furthermore, minor cannabinoids have shown potential in regulating sebum production, a crucial factor in acne pathogenesis. The findings of this review suggest that minor cannabinoids hold therapeutic promise in the management of dermatological diseases. Further preclinical and clinical investigations are warranted to elucidate their mechanisms of action, determine optimal dosage regimens, and assess long-term safety profiles. Incorporating minor cannabinoids into dermatological therapies could potentially offer novel treatment options of patients and improve their overall well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Kwiecień
- Chair and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 4, 20-090 Lublin, Poland;
- A-Sense Sp. z o.o., ul. Moscickiego 1, 24-100 Pulawy, Poland
| | - Dorota Kowalczuk
- Chair and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 4, 20-090 Lublin, Poland;
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Liu C, Puopolo T, Li H, Cai A, Seeram NP, Ma H. Identification of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Inhibitors from a Library of Minor Cannabinoids by Biochemical Inhibition Assay and Surface Plasmon Resonance Characterized Binding Affinity. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27186127. [PMID: 36144858 PMCID: PMC9502466 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27186127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The replication of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is mediated by its main protease (Mpro), which is a plausible therapeutic target for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Although numerous in silico studies reported the potential inhibitory effects of natural products including cannabis and cannabinoids on SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, their anti-Mpro activities are not well validated by biological experimental data. Herein, a library of minor cannabinoids belonging to several chemotypes including tetrahydrocannabinols, cannabidiols, cannabigerols, cannabichromenes, cannabinodiols, cannabicyclols, cannabinols, and cannabitriols was evaluated for their anti-Mpro activity using a biochemical assay. Additionally, the binding affinities and molecular interactions between the active cannabinoids and the Mpro protein were studied by a biophysical technique (surface plasmon resonance; SPR) and molecular docking, respectively. Cannabinoids tetrahydrocannabutol and cannabigerolic acid were the most active Mpro inhibitors (IC50 = 3.62 and 14.40 μM, respectively) and cannabigerolic acid had a binding affinity KD=2.16×10-4 M). A preliminary structure and activity relationship study revealed that the anti-Mpro effects of cannabinoids were influenced by the decarboxylation of cannabinoids and the length of cannabinoids' alkyl side chain. Findings from the biochemical, biophysical, and computational assays support the growing evidence of cannabinoids' inhibitory effects on SARS-CoV-2 Mpro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Liu
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
- Cannabis Research Collaborative, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Tess Puopolo
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Huifang Li
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Ang Cai
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Navindra P. Seeram
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
- Cannabis Research Collaborative, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
- Correspondence: (N.P.S.); (H.M.); Tel.: +1-(401)-874-9367 (N.P.S.); +1-(401)-874-2711 (H.M.)
| | - Hang Ma
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
- Cannabis Research Collaborative, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
- Correspondence: (N.P.S.); (H.M.); Tel.: +1-(401)-874-9367 (N.P.S.); +1-(401)-874-2711 (H.M.)
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Kozak JA. Suppression of Store-operated Calcium Entry Channels and Cytokine Release by Cannabinoids. Function (Oxf) 2022; 3:zqac044. [PMID: 36168590 PMCID: PMC9508850 DOI: 10.1093/function/zqac044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Caprioglio D, Amin HIM, Taglialatela-Scafati O, Muñoz E, Appendino G. Minor Phytocannabinoids: A Misleading Name but a Promising Opportunity for Biomedical Research. Biomolecules 2022; 12:1084. [PMID: 36008978 DOI: 10.3390/biom12081084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the very large number of phytocannabinoids isolated from Cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.), bioactivity studies have long remained focused on the so called “Big Four” [Δ9-THC (1), CBD (2), CBG (3) and CBC (4)] because of their earlier characterization and relatively easy availability via isolation and/or synthesis. Bioactivity information on the chemical space associated with the remaining part of the cannabinome, a set of ca 150 compounds traditionally referred to as “minor phytocannabinoids”, is scarce and patchy, yet promising in terms of pharmacological potential. According to their advancement stage, we sorted the bioactivity data available on these compounds, better referred to as the “dark cannabinome”, into categories: discovery (in vitro phenotypical and biochemical assays), preclinical (animal models), and clinical. Strategies to overcome the availability issues associated with minor phytocannabinoids are discussed, as well as the still unmet challenges facing their development as mainstream drugs.
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Walsh KB, McKinney AE, Holmes AE. Minor Cannabinoids: Biosynthesis, Molecular Pharmacology and Potential Therapeutic Uses. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:777804. [PMID: 34916950 PMCID: PMC8669157 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.777804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The medicinal use of Cannabis sativa L. can be traced back thousands of years to ancient China and Egypt. While marijuana has recently shown promise in managing chronic pain and nausea, scientific investigation of cannabis has been restricted due its classification as a schedule 1 controlled substance. A major breakthrough in understanding the pharmacology of cannabis came with the isolation and characterization of the phytocannabinoids trans-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). This was followed by the cloning of the cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors in the 1990s and the subsequent discovery of the endocannabinoid system. In addition to the major phytocannabinoids, Δ9-THC and CBD, cannabis produces over 120 other cannabinoids that are referred to as minor and/or rare cannabinoids. These cannabinoids are produced in smaller amounts in the plant and are derived along with Δ9-THC and CBD from the parent cannabinoid cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). While our current knowledge of minor cannabinoid pharmacology is incomplete, studies demonstrate that they act as agonists and antagonists at multiple targets including CB1 and CB2 receptors, transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), serotonin 5-HT1a receptors and others. The resulting activation of multiple cell signaling pathways, combined with their putative synergistic activity, provides a mechanistic basis for their therapeutic actions. Initial clinical reports suggest that these cannabinoids may have potential benefits in the treatment of neuropathic pain, neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, cancer and skin disorders. This review focuses on the molecular pharmacology of the minor cannabinoids and highlights some important therapeutic uses of the compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth B Walsh
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Amanda E McKinney
- Institute for Human and Planetary Health, Crete, NE, United States.,School of Integrative Learning, Doane University, Crete, NE, United States
| | - Andrea E Holmes
- School of Integrative Learning, Doane University, Crete, NE, United States.,Precision Plant Molecules, Denver, CO, United States
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