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Abstract
The recent announcement of marijuana legalization in Canada spiked many discussions about potential health benefits of Cannabis sativa. Cannabinoids are active chemical compounds produced by cannabis, and their numerous effects on the human body are primarily exerted through interactions with cannabinoid receptor types 1 (CB1) and 2 (CB2). Cannabinoids are broadly classified as endo-, phyto-, and synthetic cannabinoids. In this review, we will describe the activity of cannabinoids on the cellular level, comprehensively summarize the activity of all groups of cannabinoids on various cancers and propose several potential mechanisms of action of cannabinoids on cancer cells.
KEYWORDS: Cannabinoids, anti-tumor activity, cancer, cannabidiol, tetrahydrocannabinol
Highlights
- Endocannabinoids and phytocannabinoids can be used for cancer therapy
- Cannabis extracts have stronger anti-tumor capacity than single cannabinoids
- Combination of several cannabinoids may have more potent effect on cancer.
- PMID: 32249682
- DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2020.1742952