The molecular mechanisms that underpin the biological benefit of full spectrum cannabis extract in the treatment of neuropathic pain and inflammation.

2020 Mar 19:165771. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.165771.

[Epub ahead of print]

Maayah ZH¹, Takahara S¹, Ferdaoussi M¹, Dyck JRB².

Author information

Abstract

Cannabis has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of pain and inflammatory diseases. The biological effect of cannabis is mainly attributed to two major cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol. In the majority of studies to-date, a purified tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol alone or in combination have been extensively examined in many studies for the treatment of numerous disorders including pain and inflammation. However, few studies have investigated the biological benefits of full-spectrum cannabis plant extract. Given that cannabis is known to generate a large number of cannabinoids along with numerous other biologically relevant products including terpenes, studies involving purified tetrahydrocannabinol and/or cannabidiol may not precisely consider the potential biological benefits of the full-spectrum cannabis extracts. This may be especially true in the role of cannabis as a treatment of pain and inflammation. Herein, we review the pre-clinical physiological and molecular mechanisms in biological systems that are affected by cannabis.

KEYWORDS: CBD, Full-spectrum cannabis extract, Neuropathic pain, THC, Terpenes

PMID: 32201189
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.165771

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest JRBD is on the board of directors of Aurora Cannabis Inc., which is a for-profit, company licensed for the cultivation and sale of medical cannabis. Aurora Cannabis Inc. was not involved in any aspect of the review. Thus, the authors have declared that no conflict of interest exists.