Camphene, a Plant Derived Monoterpene, Exerts Its Hypolipidemic Action by Affecting SREBP-1 and MTP Expression

A Comparison Analysis of Four Different Drying Treatments on the Volatile Organic Compounds of Gardenia Flowers

The gardenia flower not only has extremely high ornamental value but also is an important source of natural food and spices, with a wide range of uses. To support the development of gardenia flower products, this study used headspace gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) technology to compare and analyze the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of fresh gardenia flower and those after using four different drying methods (vacuum freeze-drying (VFD), microwave drying (MD), hot-air drying (HAD), and vacuum drying (VD)). The results show that, in terms of shape, the VFD sample is almost identical to fresh gardenia flower, while the HAD, MD, and VD samples show significant changes in appearance with clear wrinkling; a total of 59 volatile organic compounds were detected in the gardenia flower, including 13 terpenes, 18 aldehydes, 4 esters, 8 ketones, 15 alcohols, and 1 sulfide. Principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis (CA), and partial least-squares regression analysis (PLS-DA) were performed on the obtained data, and the research found that different drying methods impact the VOCs of the gardenia flower. VFD or MD may be the most effective alternative to traditional sun-drying methods. Considering its drying efficiency and production cost, MD has the widest market prospects.

Effects of Chios Mastiha essential oil on cholesterol levels of healthy volunteers: A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study (MASTIHA-OIL)

INTRODUCTION

Chios Mastiha essential oil (CMO) is a natural product extracted from the resin of Mastiha, possessing antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-ulcer, anti-neoplastic, and cholesterol-lowering capabilities in vitro, and its hypolipidemic effect was confirmed in animal studies. Yet, there are no randomized, placebo-controlled clinical studies in the literature regarding CMO's hypolipidemic effects in humans. A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study was designed to study the hypolipidemic effect of CMO capsules on healthy volunteers with elevated cholesterol.

METHODS

192 healthy volunteers were screened and 160 of them with total cholesterol> 200 mg/dl participated in the study. They were randomized with a 2:1 ratio of receiving CMO capsules (200 mg mastiha-oil/capsule) and placebo for 8 weeks respectively. 113 patients received CMO and 47 were randomized in the control group, and all of them completed the follow-up period.

RESULTS

After 8 weeks of CMO administration, total and LDL cholesterol were significantly lower in the CMO compared to the placebo group 215.2 ± 27.5 vs 237.0 ± 27.9 mg/dl (p < 0.001) and 135.0 ± 26.1 vs 153.0 ± 23.3 mg/dl (p < 0.001) respectively. No gastrointestinal adverse events or liver or renal toxicity were reported. Additionally, in the CMO group total cholesterol was significantly decreased by 20.6 mg/dl (9%), LDL by 18.1 mg/dl (12%), triglycerides by 21.8 mg/dl (15%), and glucose by 4.6 mg/dl (5%) and HDL was increased by 2.4 mg/dl (5%), compared to their baseline values.

CONCLUSION

The MASTIHA-OIL study showed the efficacy and safety of CMO in reduction of total and LDL cholesterol after 8 weeks of administration in healthy volunteers with elevated cholesterol levels.

A Comparison between Bulgarian Tanacetum parthenium Essential Oil from Two Different Locations

Tanacetum parthenium L. (Asteraceae) is a perennial herbaceous plant with a long-standing historical use in traditional medicine. Recently Tanacetum parthenium L. essential oil has been associated with a promising potential for future applications in the pharmaceutical industry, in the cosmetics industry, and in agriculture. Investigations on the essential oil (EO) have indicated antimicrobial, antioxidant, and repellent activity. The present study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of Bulgarian T. parthenium essential oil from two different regions, to compare the results to those reported previously in the literature, and to point out some of its future applications. The essential oils of the air-dried flowering aerial parts were obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The chemical composition was evaluated using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). It was established that the oxygenated monoterpenes were the predominant terpene class, followed by the monoterpene hydrocarbons. Significant qualitative and quantitative differences between both samples were revealed. Camphor (50.90%), camphene (16.12%), and bornyl acetate (6.05%) were the major constituents in the feverfew EO from the western Rhodope Mountains, while in the EO from the central Balkan mountains camphor (45.54%), trans-chrysanthenyl acetate (13.87%), and camphene (13.03%) were the most abundant components.

Camphene as a Protective Agent in Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R) and the resulting heart failure is one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Camphene has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and hypolipidemic properties; however, its role in the protection of the heart from ischemia and reperfusion has not been investigated. The cardioprotective role of camphene and the mechanism that mediates its action against I/R injury was evaluated in the present study. A single dose of camphene was administered in adult rats prior to ex vivo I/R induction. Infarct size was measured using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and cardiomyocyte injury was assessed by determining the release of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Camphene pretreatment provided significant protection reducing myocardial infarct size and cell death after I/R. The effect was correlated with the reduction in oxidative stress as evidenced by the determination of protein carbonylation, GSH/GSSG ratio, the increase in mitochondrial content as determined by CS activity, and the modulation of antioxidant defense mechanisms (expression of Nrf2 and target genes and activities of CAT, MnSOD, and GR). Furthermore, ferroptosis was decreased, as demonstrated by downregulation of GPx4 expression and reduction in lipid peroxidation. The results suggest that camphene can protect the heart against I/R injury by maintaining redox homeostasis and can hold therapeutic potential for mitigating the detrimental effects of I/R in the heart.

Essential Oil from Coriandrum sativum: A review on Its Phytochemistry and Biological Activity

Essential oils are hydrophobic liquids produced as secondary metabolites by specialized secretory tissues in the leaves, seeds, flowers, bark and wood of the plant, and they play an important ecological role in plants. Essential oils have been used in various traditional healing systems due to their pharmaceutical properties, and are reported to be a suitable replacement for chemical and synthetic drugs that come with adverse side effects. Thus, currently, various plant sources for essential oil production have been explored. Coriander essential oil, obtained from the leaf and seed oil of Coriandrum sativum, has been reported to have various biological activities. Apart from its application in food preservation, the oil has many pharmacological properties, including allelopathic properties. The present review discusses the phytochemical composition of the seed and leaf oil of coriander and the variation of the essential oil across various germplasms, accessions, at different growth stages and across various regions. Furthermore, the study explores various extraction and quantification methods for coriander essential oils. The study also provides detailed information on various pharmacological properties of essential oils, such as antimicrobial, anthelmintic, insecticidal, allelopathic, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticonvulsive, antidepressant, and hepatoprotective properties, as well as playing a major role in maintaining good digestive health. Coriander essential oil is one of the most promising alternatives in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Aroma Profile and Biological Effects of Ochradenus arabicus Essential Oils: A Comparative Study of Stem, Flowers, and Leaves

The present analysis explores the chemical constituents and determines the in vitro antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and antioxidant significance of the essential oils (EOs) of the stem, leaves, and flowers of Ochradenus arabicus for the first time. The EOs of the flowers presented seventy-four constituents contributing to 81.46% of the total EOs, with the major compounds being 24-norursa-3,12-diene (13.06%), 24-norursa-3,12-dien-11-one (6.61%), and 24-noroleana-3,12-diene (6.25%). The stem EOs with sixty-one compounds contributed 95.95% of the total oil, whose main bioactive compounds were (+)-camphene (21.50%), eremophilene (5.87%), and δ-selinene (5.03%), while a minimum of fifty-one compounds in the leaves’ EOs (98.75%) were found, with the main constituents being n-hexadecanoic acid (12.32%), octacosane (8.62%), tetradecanoic acid (8.54%), and prehydro fersenyl acetone (7.27%). The antimicrobial activity of the EOs of O. arabicus stem, leaves, and flowers was assessed against two bacterial strains (Escherichia coli and Streptococcus aureus) and two fungal strains (Penicillium simplicissimum and Rhizoctonia solani) via the disc diffusion assay. However, the EOs extracted from the stem were found effective against one bacterial strain, E. coli, and one fungal strain, R. Solani, among the examined microbes in comparison to the standard and negative control. The tested EOs samples of the O. arabicus stem displayed a maximum potential to cure diabetes with an IC50 = 0.40 ± 0.10 µg/mL, followed by leaves and flowers with an IC50 = 0.71 ± 0.11 µg/mL and IC50 = 10.57 ± 0.18 µg/mL, respectively, as compared to the standard acarbose (IC50 = 377.26 ± 1.20 µg/mL). In addition, the EOs of O. arabicus flowers had the highest antioxidant activity (IC50 = 106.40 ± 0.19 µg/mL) as compared to the standard ascorbic acid (IC50 = 73.20 ± 0.17 µg/mL) using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. In the ABTS assay, the EOs of the same sample (flower) depicted the utmost potential to scavenge the free radicals with an IC50 = 178.0 ± 0.14 µg/mL as compared with the ascorbic acid, having an IC50 of 87.34 ± 0.10 µg/mL the using 2,2-Azino-Bis-3-Ethylbenzothiazoline-6-Sulfonic acid (ABTS) assay. The EOs of all parts of O. arabicus have useful bioactive components due to which they present antidiabetic and antioxidant significance. Furthermore, additional investigations are considered necessary to expose the responsible components of the examined biological capabilities, which would be effective in the production of innovative drugs.

Using Rosemary Essential Oil as a Potential Natural Preservative during Stirred-like Yogurt Making

The popularity of rosemary has grown as a natural alternative over the synthetic supplements due to its potential health benefits. The rosemary plant has been utilized to preserve food due to its ability to prevent oxidation and microbial contamination. The reason for this study was to determine the phytochemical components and antimicrobial activity of rosemary essential oil (REO) and the effect of REO addition (0.5 and 0.7%) on the chemical, microbiological, and sensory properties of stirred-like yogurt (SLY) during 16 days of storage at 4 °C. The obtained data observed that REO exhibited antimicrobial action against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella marcescens, as well as fungi (Aspergillus flavus) and yeasts (Candida albicans). Increased REO to 0.7% accelerated (p < 0.05) the development of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in SLY (8.3 log cfu/g) and delayed yeast growth up to 12 days. Molds and coliforms were also not found in the SLY samples with REO. In comparison to control samples, sensory results showed that the addition of REO improves the overall acceptance of SLY (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the current study found that REO could be used as a natural preservative during the production of SLY to extend shelf-life and promote LAB development.

Role of Natural Compounds and Target Enzymes in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurological condition. The rising prevalence of AD necessitates the rapid development of efficient therapy options. Despite substantial study, only a few medications are capable of delaying the disease. Several substances with pharmacological activity, derived from plants, have been shown to have positive benefits for the treatment of AD by targeting various enzymes, such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), β-secretase, γ-secretase, and monoamine oxidases (MAOs), which are discussed as potential targets. Medicinal plants have already contributed a number of lead molecules to medicine development, with many of them currently undergoing clinical trials. A variety of medicinal plants have been shown to diminish the degenerative symptoms associated with AD, either in their raw form or as isolated compounds. The aim of this review was to provide a brief summary of AD and its current therapies, followed by a discussion of the natural compounds examined as therapeutic agents and the processes underlying the positive effects, particularly the management of AD.

Efficacy of a standardized herbal product from Pistacia atlantica subsp. Kurdica in type 2 diabetic patients with hyperlipidemia: A triple-blind randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Hyperlipidemia is one of the consequences of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that puts the patients at the risk of getting cardiovascular disease. Pistacia atlantica subsp. Kurdica is used by local people for the improvement of lipid and glucose indices. This study was carried out to evaluate clinical effects of P. atlantica subsp. Kurdica on hyperlipidemia related to T2DM patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this randomized, triple-blind, and placebo-controlled study, type 2 diabetes patients with hyperlipidemia were randomly allocated to receive either P. atlantica kurdica or placebo capsule for 2 months. 58 Patients were followed up at the beginning and after the end of each month for assessment of lipid profiles, glucose indices, and liver and renal function tests. The herbal capsule was standardized according to volatile and nonvolatile compounds by GC-MS/FID and RP-HPLC-PDA, respectively. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also determined with a spectrophotometer.

RESULTS

After 1 and 2 months of the intervention period, mean differences of 2HPP, total cholesterol, and LDL-c have been reduced significantly (P < 0.05) between the two groups, but there were not reported any significant statistical changes in FBS, HbA1c, TG, HDL-c, ALT, AST, and Cr. The herbal capsule was standardized according to benzoic acid, ballic acid, rutin, and quercetin standard (6.5, 2.1, 1.4, 0.7 mg, respectively), and also α-pinene as major volatile constituent 28.51%.

CONCLUSION

According to results the P. atlantica kurdica is effective in the improvement of lipid profile and glucose indices in line with its local application.

CLINICAL TRIAL ID

(IRCT201708109014N178).

Camellia oil Enhances Plasma Antioxidant Metabolism and Improves Plasma Lipid Metabolism in High-fat Diet-fed Rats

Living on a high-fat, high-calorie, and high-protein diet for a long period may compromise human immunity due to the long-term accumulation of free radicals and plasma lipids. The antioxidant and lipid-lowering compounds (ie polyphenols and vitamin E) in Camellia oil help to decrease the risk of numerous ailments, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), and obesity.

The aims of this study were to study the hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of Camellia oil in high-fat-fed rats and to promote the high-value use of camellia resources. The high-fat-fed rats were administrated with 2.5, 7.5, and 15 mL/kg BW Camellia oil (Camellia oil group), and 10 mg/kg BW atorvastatin (atorvastatin group), respectively, and compared with a model group (only fed with high fat) and a control group (fed with basal diet). Several parameters were measured, including (1) body weight (BW), liver-to-BW ratio; (2) plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C); and (3) alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alanine aminotransferase (AST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, model driven architecture (MDA) content, lipid metabolism-related genes, and antioxidant-related genes in liver tissue.

Compared with the model group, the high-fat-fed rats in the Camellia oil and atorvastatin group had significantly lower BW and liver-to-BW ratio ( P < .01), plasma TC, TG, and LDL-C levels and ALT and AST activities, but higher HDL-C levels. The relative expressions of ACAT1, DGAT2, FAS, and SREBP genes were significantly reduced in the Camellia oil and atorvastatin groups, while the relative expressions of LCAT, UCP2, MCD, and CPT-1 genes were significantly increased. The rats in the Camellia oil group showed significantly higher SOD and GSH-Px activities, significantly lower MDA content, and significantly higher relative expression of antioxidant genes (eg SOD1, GPx1, CAT, and Gclm). Thus, atorvastatin and Camellia oil exhibited significant hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects, which were better at a dose of 7.5 mL/kg (BW) of Camellia oil. Therefore, Camellia oil becomes a potential new natural resource for future research and development of antioxidant and hypolipidemic drugs, nutraceuticals, and additives.

Usage of Natural Volatile Organic Compounds as Biological Modulators of Disease

Plants produce a wide variety of natural volatile organic compounds (NVOCs), many of which are unique to each species. These compounds serve many purposes, such as fending off herbivores and adapting to changes in temperature and water supply. Interestingly, although NVOCs are synthesized to deter herbivores, many of these compounds have been found to possess several therapeutic qualities, such as promoting nerve stability, enhancing sleep, and suppressing hyperresponsiveness, in addition to acting as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. Therefore, many NVOCs are promising drug candidates for disease treatment and prevention. Given their volatile nature, these compounds can be administered to patients through inhalation, which is often more comfortable and convenient than other administration routes. However, the development of NVOC-based drug candidates requires a careful evaluation of the molecular mechanisms that drive their therapeutic properties to avoid potential adverse effects. Furthermore, even compounds that appear generally safe might have toxic effects depending on their dose, and therefore their toxicological assessment is also critical. In order to enhance the usage of NVOCs this short review focuses not only on the biological activities and therapeutic mode of action of representative NVOCs but also their toxic effects.

Recent Molecular Mechanisms and Beneficial Effects of Phytochemicals and Plant-Based Whole Foods in Reducing LDL-C and Preventing Cardiovascular Disease

Abnormal lipid metabolism leads to the development of hyperlipidemia, a common cause of multiple chronic disorders, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), obesity, diabetes, and cerebrovascular disease. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) currently remains the primary target for treatment of hyperlipidemia. Despite the advancement of treatment and prevention of hyperlipidemia, medications used to manage hyperlipidemia are limited to allopathic drugs, which present certain limitations and adverse effects. Increasing evidence indicates that utilization of phytochemicals and plant-based whole foods is an alternative and promising strategy to prevent hyperlipidemia and CVD. The current review focuses on phytochemicals and their pharmacological mode of actions for the regulation of LDL-C and prevention of CVD. The important molecular mechanisms illustrated in detail in this review include elevation of reverse cholesterol transport, inhibition of intestinal cholesterol absorption, acceleration of cholesterol excretion in the liver, and reduction of cholesterol synthesis. Moreover, the beneficial effects of plant-based whole foods, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, dried nuts, flax seeds, whole grains, peas, beans, vegan diets, and dietary fibers in LDL-C reduction and cardiovascular health are summarized. This review concludes that phytochemicals and plant-based whole foods can reduce LDL-C levels and lower the risk for CVD.

Cholesterol-lowering activity of natural mono- and sesquiterpenoid compounds in essential oils: A review and investigation of mechanisms using in silico protein-ligand docking

Mono- and sesquiterpenoids are the main chemical constituents of essential oils. Essential oils and their constituents have received increasing attention for lipid-lowering properties in both cell and animal models. Despite the chemical diversity of essential oil compounds, the effects of many of these compounds on cholesterol metabolism are highly similar. In this report, we review the literature regarding the effects of essential oils and their terpenoid constituents on cholesterol homeostasis, and explore likely mechanisms using protein-ligand docking. We identified 98 experimental and seven clinical studies on essential oils, isolated compounds, and blends; 100 of these described improvements either in blood cholesterol levels or in sterol metabolic pathways. Our review and docking analysis confirmed two likely mechanisms common to many essential oil compounds: (1) direct agonism of peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptors, and (2) direct interaction with sterol-sensing domains, motifs found in key sterol regulatory proteins including sterol regulatory element binding protein cleavage activating protein and HMG-CoA reductase. Notably, these direct interactions lead to decreased transcription and accelerated degradation of HMG-CoA reductase. Our work suggests that terpene derivatives in essential oils have cholesterol-lowering activity and could potentially work synergistically with statins, however, further high quality studies are needed to establish their clinical efficacy.

Terpenes/Terpenoids in Cannabis: Are They Important?

Cannabis sativa plant has not only cannabinoids as crucial compounds but also the other compounds that play important role as synergistic and/or entourage compound. Cannabis/hemp plant materials and essential oils were analyzed with the help of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry detector for the content of terpenes and terpenoids. The main terpenes/terpenoids and their abundance in the samples were evaluated. Results of this study will be helpful in the next evaluation of these compound in mixture with cannabinoids and their importance in medical treatment.

Antioxidant Properties of Camphene-Based Thiosemicarbazones: Experimental and Theoretical Evaluation

The thiosemicarbazone derivatives have a wide range of biological activities, such as antioxidant activity. In this study, the antiradical activities of six camphene-based thiosemicarbazones (TSC-1~6) were investigated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and peroxyl radical scavenging capacity (PSC) assays, respectively, and the results reveal that TSC1~6 exhibited good abilities for scavenging free radicals in a dose-dependent way. Compound TSC-2 exhibited the best effect of scavenging DPPH radical, with the lowest EC₅₀ (0.208 ± 0.004 mol/mol DPPH) as well as the highest bimolecular rate constant K_b (4218 M^-1 s^-1), which is 1.18-fold higher than that of Trolox. Meanwhile, TSC-2 also obtained the lowest EC₅₀ (1.27 µmol of Trolox equiv/µmol) of scavenging peroxyl radical. Furthermore, the density functional theory (DFT) calculation was carried out to further explain the experimental results by calculating several molecular descriptors associated with radical scavenging activity. These theoretical data suggested that the electron-donating effect of the diethylamino group in TSC-2 leads to the enhancement of the scavenging activities and the studied compounds may prefer to undergo the hydrogen atom transfer process.

Nonhuman primate breath volatile organic compounds associate with developmental programming and cardio-metabolic status

Rodent and nonhuman primate studies indicate that developmental programming by reduced perinatal nutrition negatively impacts life course cardio-metabolic health. We have developed a baboon model in which we feed control mothers (CON) ad libitum while nutrient restricted mothers are fed 70% of ad libitum global feed in pregnancy and lactation. Offspring of nutrient restricted mothers are intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) at term. By 3.5 years IUGR baboons showed signs of insulin resistance, indicating a pre-diabetic phenotype, in contrast to healthy CON offspring. We hypothesized that a novel breath analysis approach would provide markers of the altered cardio-metabolic state in a non-invasive manner. Here we assess whether exhaled breath volatile organic compounds (VOCs) collected from this unique cohort of juvenile baboons with documented cardio-metabolic dysfunction resulting from in utero programming can be detected from their breath signatures. Breath was collected from male and female CON and IUGR baboons at 4.8 ± 0.2 years (human equivalent ~13 years). Breath VOCs were quantified using a two-dimensional gas chromatography mass spectrometer. Two-way ANOVA, on 76 biologically relevant VOCs identified 27 VOCs (p < 0.05) with altered abundances between groups (sex, birthweight, and sex x birthweight). The 27 VOCs included 2-pentanone, 2-octanone, 2,2,7,7-tetramethyloctane and 3-methyl-1-heptene, which have not previously been associated with cardio-metabolic disease. Unsupervised principal component analysis of these VOCs could discriminate the four clusters defining males, females, CON and IUGR. This study, which is the first to assess quantifiable breath signatures associated with cardio-metabolic programing for any model of IUGR, demonstrates the translational value of this unique model to identify metabolites of programmed cardio-metabolic dysfunction in breath signatures. Future studies are required to validate the translatability of these findings to humans.

Cannabis Pharmacology: The Usual Suspects and a Few Promising Leads

The golden age of cannabis pharmacology began in the 1960s as Raphael Mechoulam and his colleagues in Israel isolated and synthesized cannabidiol, tetrahydrocannabinol, and other phytocannabinoids. Initially, THC garnered most research interest with sporadic attention to cannabidiol, which has only rekindled in the last 15 years through a demonstration of its remarkably versatile pharmacology and synergy with THC. Gradually a cognizance of the potential of other phytocannabinoids has developed. Contemporaneous assessment of cannabis pharmacology must be even far more inclusive. Medical and recreational consumers alike have long believed in unique attributes of certain cannabis chemovars despite their similarity in cannabinoid profiles. This has focused additional research on the pharmacological contributions of mono- and sesquiterpenoids to the effects of cannabis flower preparations. Investigation reveals these aromatic compounds to contribute modulatory and therapeutic roles in the cannabis entourage far beyond expectations considering their modest concentrations in the plant. Synergistic relationships of the terpenoids to cannabinoids will be highlighted and include many complementary roles to boost therapeutic efficacy in treatment of pain, psychiatric disorders, cancer, and numerous other areas. Additional parts of the cannabis plant provide a wide and distinct variety of other compounds of pharmacological interest, including the triterpenoid friedelin from the roots, canniprene from the fan leaves, cannabisin from seed coats, and cannflavin A from seed sprouts. This chapter will explore the unique attributes of these agents and demonstrate how cannabis may yet fulfil its potential as Mechoulam's professed "pharmacological treasure trove."