The present paper describes the historical use of cannabis, starting with its use in Assyria and China. Recent advances in the understanding of the molecular basis of cannabis action are…
Keyword: Endocannabinoid/s
The endocannabinoid system and cancer: therapeutic implication
The endocannabinoid system is implicated in a variety of physiological and pathological conditions (inflammation, immunomodulation, analgesia, cancer and others). The main active ingredient of cannabis, D9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (D9 -THC), produces…
The endocannabinoid system as a target for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease
The Cannabis sativa plant has been exploited for medicinal, agricultural and spiritual purposes in diverse cultures over thousands of years. Cannabis has been used recreationally for its psychotropic properties, while…
The endocannabinoid system in cancer—Potential therapeutic target?
Endogenous arachidonic acid metabolites with properties similar to compounds of Cannabis sativa Linnaeus, the so-called endocannabinoids, have effects on various types of cancer. Although endocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids may have…
The Endogenous Cannabinoid System and Its Role in Nociceptive Behavior
Abstract The analgesic properties of exogenous cannabinoids have been recognized for many years and suggest a regulatory role for the endogenous cannabinoid (“endocannabinoid”) system in mammalian nociceptive pathways. The endocannabinoid…
The endogenous cannabinoid, anandamide, induces cell death in colorectal carcinoma cells: a possible role for cyclooxygenase 2
Background and aims: Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) is upregulated in most colorectal cancers and is responsible for metabolism of the endogenous cannabinoid, anandamide, into prostaglandinethanolamides (PG-EAs). The aims of this study…
The neuroprotective role of endocannabinoids against chemical-induced injury and other adverse effects
Abstract Considerable progress has been made, recently, in understanding the role of the endocannabinoid system in regard to neuroprotection. Endogenous cannabinoids have received increasing attention as potential protective agents in…
The potential relevance of the endocannabinoid, 2- arachidonoylglycerol, in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is an aggressive, genetically heterogenerous disease and the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma among adults. To gain further insights into the etiology of DLBCL and…
The role of the endocannabinoid system in eating disorders: pharmacological implications
The endocannabinoid (eCB) system is a widespread intercellular signalling mechanism that plays a critical role in body homoeostasis. It is located in key points involved in food intake and energy…
The serine hydrolases MAGL, ABHD6 and ABHD12 as guardians of 2-arachidonoylglycerol signalling through cannabinoid receptors
The endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is a lipid mediator involved in various physiological processes. In response to neural activity, 2-AG is synthesized post-synaptically, then activates pre-synaptic cannabinoid CB1 receptors (CB1Rs) in…