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Waris A, Ullah A, Asim M, Ullah R, Rajdoula MR, Bello ST, Alhumaydhi FA. Phytotherapeutic options for the treatment of epilepsy: pharmacology, targets, and mechanism of action. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1403232. [PMID: 38855752 PMCID: PMC11160429 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1403232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is one of the most common, severe, chronic, potentially life-shortening neurological disorders, characterized by a persisting predisposition to generate seizures. It affects more than 60 million individuals globally, which is one of the major burdens in seizure-related mortality, comorbidities, disabilities, and cost. Different treatment options have been used for the management of epilepsy. More than 30 drugs have been approved by the US FDA against epilepsy. However, one-quarter of epileptic individuals still show resistance to the current medications. About 90% of individuals in low and middle-income countries do not have access to the current medication. In these countries, plant extracts have been used to treat various diseases, including epilepsy. These medicinal plants have high therapeutic value and contain valuable phytochemicals with diverse biomedical applications. Epilepsy is a multifactorial disease, and therefore, multitarget approaches such as plant extracts or extracted phytochemicals are needed, which can target multiple pathways. Numerous plant extracts and phytochemicals have been shown to treat epilepsy in various animal models by targeting various receptors, enzymes, and metabolic pathways. These extracts and phytochemicals could be used for the treatment of epilepsy in humans in the future; however, further research is needed to study the exact mechanism of action, toxicity, and dosage to reduce their side effects. In this narrative review, we comprehensively summarized the extracts of various plant species and purified phytochemicals isolated from plants, their targets and mechanism of action, and dosage used in various animal models against epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Waris
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ata Ullah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Muhammad Asim
- Department of Neurosciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health (CRMH), Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Rafi Ullah
- Department of Botany, Bacha Khan University Charsadda, Charsadda, Pakistan
| | - Md. Rafe Rajdoula
- Department of Neurosciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Stephen Temitayo Bello
- Department of Neurosciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health (CRMH), Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Fahad A. Alhumaydhi
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
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Castelli V, Lavanco G, D’Amico C, Feo S, Tringali G, Kuchar M, Cannizzaro C, Brancato A. CBD enhances the cognitive score of adolescent rats prenatally exposed to THC and fine-tunes relevant effectors of hippocampal plasticity. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1237485. [PMID: 37583903 PMCID: PMC10424934 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1237485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: An altered neurodevelopmental trajectory associated with prenatal exposure to ∆-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) leads to aberrant cognitive processing through a perturbation in the effectors of hippocampal plasticity in the juvenile offspring. As adolescence presents a unique window of opportunity for "brain reprogramming", we aimed at assessing the role of the non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) as a rescue strategy to temper prenatal THC-induced harm. Methods: To this aim, Wistar rats prenatally exposed to THC (2 mg/kg s.c.) or vehicle (gestational days 5-20) were tested for specific indexes of spatial and configural memory in the reinforcement-motivated Can test and in the aversion-driven Barnes maze test during adolescence. Markers of hippocampal excitatory plasticity and endocannabinoid signaling-NMDAR subunits NR1 and 2A-, mGluR5-, and their respective scaffold proteins PSD95- and Homer 1-; CB1R- and the neuromodulatory protein HINT1 mRNA levels were evaluated. CBD (40 mg/kg i.p.) was administered to the adolescent offspring before the cognitive tasks. Results: The present results show that prenatal THC impairs hippocampal memory functions and the underlying synaptic plasticity; CBD is able to mitigate cognitive impairment in both reinforcement- and aversion-related tasks and the neuroadaptation of hippocampal excitatory synapses and CB1R-related signaling. Discussion: While this research shows CBD potential in dampening prenatal THC-induced consequences, we point out the urgency to curb cannabis use during pregnancy in order to avoid detrimental bio-behavioral outcomes in the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Castelli
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Gianluca Lavanco
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties of Excellence “G. D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Cesare D’Amico
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies and ATEN Center, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Salvatore Feo
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies and ATEN Center, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Tringali
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Healthcare Surveillance and Bioethics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCSS, Rome, Italy
| | - Martin Kuchar
- Forensic Laboratory of Biologically Active Compounds, Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Czechia
- Psychedelics Research Centre, National Institute of Mental Health, Prague, Czechia
| | - Carla Cannizzaro
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Anna Brancato
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties of Excellence “G. D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Geci M, Scialdone M, Tishler J. The Dark Side of Cannabidiol: The Unanticipated Social and Clinical Implications of Synthetic Δ 8-THC. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2023; 8:270-282. [PMID: 36264171 PMCID: PMC10061328 DOI: 10.1089/can.2022.0126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The explosive growth of the cannabis industry in the United States over the past decade has spurred a multitude of products derived from phytocannabinoids produced by Cannabis sativa L. Decades of cannabis prohibition coupled with the more recent 2018 Farm Bill have lead to several unanticipated consequences and the widespread availability of synthetic cannabinoids derived from hemp CBD, including Δ8-THC, Δ10-THC and HHC. Methods: Herein, we review the available literature of the complexity of the chemistry of its current manufacture, namely, the acid-catalyzed ring closure of cannabidiol (ACRCC), the myriad of issues involving the unsolved technical problems with quality control of ACRCC-Δ8-THC and the multitude of isomerized byproducts, and the lack of consistent regulation regarding consumer safety and labeling. Results: We provide what we believe is the first comprehensive listing of all the documented ACRCC-Δ8-THC byproducts. Perhaps, most importantly, we highlight the growing concern that, other than Δ8-THC itself, the compounds in ACRCC-Δ8-THC product mixtures have not been subjected to any human toxicological evaluation. This is especially troubling as ACRCC-Δ8-THC products relate to vaping, and their contribution to a growing and lethal epidemic of electronic cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI). Conclusions: Quality control is totally inadequate in the newly emerging Δ8-THC industry. American consumers are ingesting products that are mislabeled with many compounds that have never received any toxicological testing. EVALI cases continue to be reported with a fatality rate approaching 2% (in California).
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Geci
- Whole Health & Healing Integrative Clinic, Cherry Valley, New York, USA
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Lee YE, Kodama T, Morita H. Novel insights into the antibacterial activities of cannabinoid biosynthetic intermediate, olivetolic acid, and its alkyl-chain derivatives. J Nat Med 2023; 77:298-305. [PMID: 36572832 PMCID: PMC9792157 DOI: 10.1007/s11418-022-01672-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Investigations of antibacterial activities revealed that the incorporation of longer alkyl chains to the C-6 position in resorcylic acid conferred antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. The resultant olivetolic acid (OA) derivatives with n-undecyl and n-tridecyl side-chains, even those lacking the hydrophobic geranyl moiety from their C-3 positions, exhibited strong antibacterial activities against B. subtilis at a MIC value of 2.5 μM. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that the n-heptyl alkyl-chain modification at C-6 of cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) effectively enhanced the activity against B. subtilis, demonstrating the importance of the alkyl side-chain in modulating the bioactivity. Overall, the findings in this study provided insight into further evaluations of the antibacterial activities, as well as other various biological activities of OA and CBGA derivatives, especially with optimized hydrophobicities at both the alkyl and prenyl side-chain positions of the core skeleton for the discovery of novel drug seeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-E Lee
- Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630-Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kodama
- Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630-Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Morita
- Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630-Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan.
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Milligan CJ, Anderson LL, McGregor IS, Arnold JC, Petrou S. Beyond CBD: Inhibitory effects of lesser studied phytocannabinoids on human voltage-gated sodium channels. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1081186. [PMID: 36891145 PMCID: PMC9986306 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1081186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Cannabis contains cannabidiol (CBD), the main non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid, but also many other phytocannabinoids that have therapeutic potential in the treatment of epilepsy. Indeed, the phytocannabinoids cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA), cannabichromenic acid (CBCA) and cannabichromene (CBC) have recently been shown to have anti-convulsant effects in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome (DS), an intractable form of epilepsy. Recent studies demonstrate that CBD inhibits voltage-gated sodium channel function, however, whether these other anti-convulsant phytocannabinoids affect these classic epilepsy drug-targets is unknown. Voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels play a pivotal role in initiation and propagation of the neuronal action potential and NaV1.1, NaV1.2, NaV1.6 and NaV1.7 are associated with the intractable epilepsies and pain conditions. Methods: In this study, using automated-planar patch-clamp technology, we assessed the profile of the phytocannabinoids CBGA, CBDVA, cannabigerol (CBG), CBCA and CBC against these human voltage-gated sodium channels subtypes expressed in mammalian cells and compared the effects to CBD. Results: CBD and CBGA inhibited peak current amplitude in the low micromolar range in a concentration-dependent manner, while CBG, CBCA and CBC revealed only modest inhibition for this subset of sodium channels. CBDVA inhibited NaV1.6 peak currents in the low micromolar range in a concentration-dependent fashion, while only exhibiting modest inhibitory effects on NaV1.1, NaV1.2, and NaV1.7 channels. CBD and CBGA non-selectively inhibited all channel subtypes examined, whereas CBDVA was selective for NaV1.6. In addition, to better understand the mechanism of this inhibition, we examined the biophysical properties of these channels in the presence of each cannabinoid. CBD reduced NaV1.1 and NaV1.7 channel availability by modulating the voltage-dependence of steady-state fast inactivation (SSFI, V0.5 inact), and for NaV1.7 channel conductance was reduced. CBGA also reduced NaV1.1 and NaV1.7 channel availability by shifting the voltage-dependence of activation (V0.5 act) to a more depolarized potential, and for NaV1.7 SSFI was shifted to a more hyperpolarized potential. CBDVA reduced channel availability by modifying conductance, SSFI and recovery from SSFI for all four channels, except for NaV1.2, where V0.5 inact was unaffected. Discussion: Collectively, these data advance our understanding of the molecular actions of lesser studied phytocannabinoids on voltage-gated sodium channel proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol J Milligan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Lyndsey L Anderson
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Iain S McGregor
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jonathon C Arnold
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Steven Petrou
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Park YJ, Na HH, Kwon IS, Hwang YN, Park HJ, Kwon TH, Park JS, Kim KC. Cannabidiol Regulates PPARγ-Dependent Vesicle Formation as well as Cell Death in A549 Human Lung Cancer Cells. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:836. [PMID: 35890134 PMCID: PMC9319361 DOI: 10.3390/ph15070836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracts of phytocannabinoids from Cannabis sativa have been studied for therapeutic purposes. Although nonpsychoactive CBD has been studied as a promising anticancer drug because it induces apoptosis in many cancer cells, it is also known to induce several physiological changes. In this study, we clarify the functional role it plays in the morphological characteristics of intracellular vesicle formation as well as apoptosis in A549 human lung cancer cells. CBD treatment shows growth inhibition at concentrations above 20 μM, but FACS analysis shows low efficacy in terms of cell death. Microscopic observations suggest that multiple vesicles were detected in the cytoplasmic region of CBD-treated A549 cells. CBD treatment upregulates apoptosis-related proteins, such as p53, PARP, RIP1, RIP3, Atg12, and Beclin, indicating that CBD regulates several types of cell death. CBD treatment also induced E-cadherin, PPARγ, clathrin, β-adaptin, and Tsg101, also known to be cellular-differentiation inducers or vesicle-formation components. Treatment combining CBD with GW9662, a PPARγ inhibitor, reduced CBD-induced cytoplasmic vesicle formation. This indicates that PPARγ regulates the vesicle-formation mechanism. However, CBD-treated E-cad KO clones did not show this regulatory mechanism. These results elucidate the pharmacological and molecular networks associated with CBD in PPARγ-dependent vesicle formation and the induction of apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoon-Jong Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea; (Y.-J.P.); (H.-H.N.); (I.-S.K.); (Y.-N.H.); (H.-J.P.)
| | - Han-Heom Na
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea; (Y.-J.P.); (H.-H.N.); (I.-S.K.); (Y.-N.H.); (H.-J.P.)
- Kangwon Center for System Imaging, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
| | - In-Seo Kwon
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea; (Y.-J.P.); (H.-H.N.); (I.-S.K.); (Y.-N.H.); (H.-J.P.)
| | - Yu-Na Hwang
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea; (Y.-J.P.); (H.-H.N.); (I.-S.K.); (Y.-N.H.); (H.-J.P.)
| | - Hye-Jin Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea; (Y.-J.P.); (H.-H.N.); (I.-S.K.); (Y.-N.H.); (H.-J.P.)
| | - Tae-Hyung Kwon
- Department of Research and Development, Chuncheon Bioindustry Foundation, Chuncheon 24341, Korea;
| | - Jin-Sung Park
- Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute, Seoul 07525, Korea;
| | - Keun-Cheol Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea; (Y.-J.P.); (H.-H.N.); (I.-S.K.); (Y.-N.H.); (H.-J.P.)
- Kangwon Center for System Imaging, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
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