Cannabidiol is one of at least 113 cannabinoids identified in cannabis. It is a major phytocannabinoid, accounting for up to 40% of the plant’s extract. CBD does not appear to have any psychoactive effects such as those caused by tetrahydrocannabinol .Potential uses are the subject of ongoing research.
Cannabidiol use appears to be safe, but a 2017 review recommended larger and longer human trials before a definitive conclusion is reached. One animal study reported that co-administration with THC potentiated the effects of THC. One possible mechanism is by competing for the THC receptor sites. Contents 1 Uses 1.1 Pain associated with multiple sclerosis 1.2 Research 2 Adverse effects 3 Interactions 4 Pharmacology 4.1 Pharmacodynamics 5 Chemistry 5.1 Biosynthesis 5.2 Isomerism 6 Society and culture 6.1 Food and beverage 6.2 Natural sources 6.3 Legal status 7 See also 8 References.
Pain associated with multiple sclerosis
Nabiximols is an aerosolized mist for oral administration containing a near 1:1 ratio of CBD and THC. The drug was approved by Canadian authorities in 2005 to alleviate pain associated with multiple sclerosis.
Anti-inflammatory
Neither cited any human trials.
Epilepsy
The LFTs showed elevated ALT and AST up to three times of normal, but only in the patients also taking valproate. The study already suggests that this might be an interaction of valproate and CBD. The abnormal LFT normalized during the trial in the patients who kept taking CBD. GW Pharmaceuticals is seeking FDA approval to market a liquid formulation of pure plant-derived CBD, under the trade name Epidiolex as a treatment for Dravet syndrome.
Epidiolex was granted fast-track status and orphan drug status in the United States for treatment of Dravet syndrome in July 2015. Adverse effects CBD safety in humans has been studied in several small studies, suggesting that it is well tolerated.The most common side effects were tiredness, diarrhea and decreased appetite. The authors recommended more clinical trials with safety evaluations.
Pharmacodynamics
It may potentiate THC’s effects by increasing CB1 receptor density or through another CB1 receptor-related mechanism.Cannabidiol has been found to act as an antagonist of GPR55, a G protein-coupled receptor and putative cannabinoid receptor that is expressed in the caudate nucleus and putamen in the brain. It has also been shown to act as a 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist, and this action may be involved in the antidepressant, anxiolytic, and neuroprotective effects of cannabidiol. Cannabidiol’s pharmacological effects have additionally been attributed to PPARγ agonism and intracellular calcium release.
Research suggests that CBD may exert some of its pharmacological action through its inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase , which may in turn increase the levels of endocannabinoids, such as anandamide, produced by the body. It has also been speculated that some of the metabolites of CBD have pharmacological effects that contribute to the biological activity of CBD. Recently, cannabidiol has been identified as a novel inverse agonist of the GPR12.
Chemistry
The synthesis of cannabidiol has been accomplished by several research groups.
