Modification of the hemodynamic and molecular features of phosphine, a potent mitochondrial toxicant in the heart, by cannabidiol

Evaluation of the protective effect of coenzyme Q10 on hepatotoxicity caused by acute phosphine poisoning

Background: Aluminum phosphide (AlP) poisoning is prevalent in numerous countries, resulting in high mortality rates. Phosphine gas, the primary agent responsible for AlP poisoning, exerts detrimental effects on various organs, notably the heart, liver and kidneys. Numerous studies have documented the advantageous impact of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in mitigating hepatic injuries. The objective of this investigation is to explore the potential protective efficacy of CoQ10 against hepatic toxicity arising from AlP poisoning. Method: The study encompassed distinct groups receiving almond oil, normal saline, exclusive CoQ10 (at a dosage of 100 mg/kg), AlP at 12 mg/kg; LD50 (lethal dose for 50%), and four groups subjected to AlP along with CoQ10 administration (post-AlP gavage). CoQ10 was administered at 10, 50, and 100 mg/kg doses via Intraparietal (ip) injections. After 24 h, liver tissue specimens were scrutinized for mitochondrial complex activities, oxidative stress parameters, and apoptosis as well as biomarkers such as aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT). Results: AlP induced a significant decrease in the activity of mitochondrial complexes I and IV, as well as a reduction in catalase activity, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), and Thiol levels. Additionally, AlP significantly elevated oxidative stress levels, indicated by elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and resulted in the increment of hepatic biomarkers such as AST and ALT. Administration of CoQ10 led to a substantial improvement in the aforementioned biochemical markers. Furthermore, phosphine exposure resulted in a significant reduction in viable hepatocytes and an increase in apoptosis. Co-treatment with CoQ10 exhibited a dose-dependent reversal of these observed alterations. Conclusion: CoQ10 preserved mitochondrial function, consequently mitigating oxidative damage. This preventive action impeded the progression of heart cells toward apoptosis.

Anti-oxidant effects of cannabidiol relevant to intracerebral hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a subtype of stroke with a high mortality rate. Oxidative stress cascades play an important role in brain injury after ICH. Cannabidiol, a major non-psychotropic phytocannabinoids, has drawn increasing interest in recent years as a potential therapeutic intervention for various neuropsychiatric disorders. Here we provide a comprehensive review of the potential therapeutic effects of cannabidiol in countering oxidative stress resulting from ICH. The review elaborates on the various sources of oxidative stress post-ICH, including mitochondrial dysfunction, excitotoxicity, iron toxicity, inflammation, and also highlights cannabidiol's ability to inhibit ROS/RNS generation from these sources. The article also delves into cannabidiol's role in promoting ROS/RNS scavenging through the Nrf2/ARE pathway, detailing both extranuclear and intranuclear regulatory mechanisms. Overall, the review underscores cannabidiol's promising antioxidant effects in the context of ICH and suggests its potential as a therapeutic option.

Effects of CBD supplementation on ambulatory blood pressure and serum urotensin-II concentrations in Caucasian patients with essential hypertension: A sub-analysis of the HYPER-H21-4 trial

HYPER-H21-4 was a randomized crossover trial that aimed to determine if cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating constituent of cannabis, has relevant effects on blood pressure and vascular health in patients with essential hypertension. In the present sub-analysis, we aimed to elucidate whether serum urotensin-II concentrations may reflect hemodynamic changes caused by oral supplementation with CBD. The sub-analysis of this randomized crossover study included 51 patients with mild to moderate hypertension that received CBD for five weeks, and placebo for five weeks. After five weeks of oral CBD supplementation, but not placebo, serum urotensin concentrations reduced significantly in comparison to baseline (3.31 ± 1.46 ng/mL vs. 2.08 ± 0.91 ng/mL, P < 0.001). Following the five weeks of CBD supplementation, the magnitude of reduction in 24 h mean arterial pressure (MAP) positively correlated with the extent of change in serum urotensin levels (r = 0.412, P = 0.003); this association was independent of age, sex, BMI and previous antihypertensive treatment (β ± standard error, 0.023 ± 0.009, P = 0.009). No correlation was present in the placebo condition (r = -0.132, P = 0.357). In summary, potent vasoconstrictor urotensin seems to be implicated in CBD-mediated reduction in blood pressure, although further research is needed to confirm these notions.

Cannabidiol Alleviates Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid-Induced Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis by Maintaining Mitochondrial Dynamic Balance and Energy Metabolic Homeostasis

Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), a fluorine-containing organic compound, can be widely detected in the environment and living organisms. Accumulating evidence has shown that PFOS breaks through different biological barriers resulting in cardiac toxicity, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid without potential adverse cardiotoxicity and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce multiorgan damage and dysfunction. For these reasons, the aim of this study was to research how PFOS caused heart injury and whether CBD could attenuate PFOS-induced heart injury. Mice were fed PFOS (5 mg/kg) and/or CBD (10 mg/kg) in vivo. In vitro, H9C2 cells were intervened with PFOS (200 μM) and/or CBD (10 μM). After PFOS exposure, oxidative stress levels and the mRNA and protein expression of apoptosis-related markers increased distinctly, accompanied by mitochondrial dynamic imbalance and energy metabolism disorders in mouse heart and H9C2 cells. Moreover, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining, acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining and Hoechst 33258 staining signaled that the number of apoptotic cells increased after exposure to PFOS. Noteworthy, CBD simultaneous treatment alleviated a series of damages caused by PFOS-mediated oxidative stress. Our results demonstrated that CBD could alleviate PFOS-induced mitochondrial dynamics imbalance and energy metabolism disorder causing cardiomyocyte apoptosis by improving the antioxidant capacity, suggesting that CBD may represent a novel cardioprotective strategy against PFOS-induced cardiotoxicity. Our findings facilitate the understanding of the cardiotoxic effects of PFOS and the important role of CBD in protecting cardiac health.

The electrocardiographic, hemodynamic, echocardiographic, and biochemical evaluation of treatment with edaravone on acute cardiac toxicity of aluminum phosphide

Aluminum phosphide (AlP) poisoning can be highly fatal due to its severe toxicity to the heart. Based on the evidence, edaravone (EDA) has protective effects on various pathological conditions of the heart. This research aimed to examine the potential protective effects of EDA on AlP-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. The rats were divided into six groups, including almond oil (control), normal saline, AlP (LD₅₀), and AlP + EDA (20, 30, and 45 mg/kg). Thirty minutes following AlP poisoning, the electrocardiographic (ECG), blood pressure (BP), and heart rate (HR) parameters were examined for 180 min. The EDA was injected 60 min following the AlP poisoning intraperitoneally. Also, 24 h after poisoning, echocardiography was carried out to evaluate the ejection fraction (EF), stroke volume (SV), and cardiac output (CO). The biochemical and molecular parameters, such as the activities of the mitochondrial complexes, reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptosis and necrosis, and troponin I and lactate levels, were also examined after 12 and 24 h in the heart tissue. According to the results, AlP-induced ECG abnormalities, decrease in blood pressure, heart rate, SV, EF%, and CO were significantly improved with EDA at doses of 30 and 45 mg/kg. Likewise, EDA significantly improved complex I and IV activity, apoptosis and necrosis, ROS, troponin I, and lactate levels following AlP-poisoning (p < 0.05). Also, the mean survival time was increased following EDA treatment, which can be attributed to the EDA’s protective effects against diverse underlying mechanisms of phosphine-induced cardiac toxicity. These findings suggest that EDA, by ameliorating heart function and modulating mitochondrial activity, might relieve AlP-induced cardiotoxicity. Nonetheless, additional investigations are required to examine any potential clinical advantages of EDA in this toxicity.

THC and CBD Fingerprinting of an Elite Cannabis Collection from Iran: Quantifying Diversity to Underpin Future Cannabis Breeding

Cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) has a rich history of human use, and the therapeutic importance of compounds produced by this species is recognized by the medical community. The active constituents of cannabis, collectively called cannabinoids, encompass hundreds of distinct molecules, the most well-characterized of which are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), which have been used for centuries as recreational drugs and medicinal agents. As a first step to establish a cannabis breeding program, we initiated this study to describe the HPLC-measured quantity of THC and CBD biochemistry profiles of 161 feral pistillate cannabis plants from 20 geographical regions of Iran. Our data showed that Iran can be considered a new region of high potential for distribution of cannabis landraces with diverse THC and CBD content, predominantly falling into three groups, as Type I = THC-predominant, Type II = approximately equal proportions of THC and CBD (both CBD and THC in a ratio close to the unity), and Type III = CBD-predominant. Correlation analysis among two target cannabinoids and environmental and geographical variables indicated that both THC and CBD contents were strongly influenced by several environmental-geographical factors, such that THC and CBD contents were positively correlated with mean, min and max annual temperature and negatively correlated with latitude, elevation, and humidity. Additionally, a negative correlation was observed between THC and CBD concentrations, suggesting that further studies to unravel these genotype × environment interactions (G × E interactions) are warranted. The results of this study provide important pre-breeding information on a collection of cannabis that will underpin future breeding programs.