Canna~Fangled Abstracts

Analyzing the role of cannabinoids as modulators of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway for their use in the management of neuropathic pain.

By March 11, 2019No Comments
2019 Mar 11. pii: S0960-894X(19)30142-8. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2019.03.013.
[Epub ahead of print]

Abstract

Neuropathic pain is a debilitating form of treatment-resistant chronic pain caused by damage to the nervous system. Cannabinoids have been known for suppressing neuropathic pain by modulating the endo cannabinoid system. Since the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling has recently been implicated in pain sensation, we investigated the impact of major cannabinoids (1-6) from the leaves of Cannabis sativa and an epoxy derivative of compound 2, here upon referred to as 2a, on modulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The results presented in this study show that compound 1, 2 and 2a exhibited potent inhibitory activity against Wnt/β-catenin pathway in a dose-dependent manner. Compound 2a was seen to inhibit this pathway at slightly lower concentrations than its parent molecule 2, under similar conditions. Taken together, compound 1, 2 and 2a, by virtue of their inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, could be developed as effective neuroprotective agents for the management of neuropathic pain.

KEYWORDS:

Anti-proliferative activity; Cannabinoids; Cannabis sativa; Neuropathic pain; Wnt/β-catenin signaling

PMID: 30871771
DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2019.03.013