Cell death induction and intracellular vesicle formation in human colorectal cancer cells treated with Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol

BACKGROUND

Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) is a principal psychoactive extract of Cannabis sativa and has been traditionally used as palliative medicine for neuropathic pain. Cannabidiol (CBD), an extract of hemp species, has recently attracted increased attention as a cancer treatment, but Δ9-THC is also requiring explored pharmacological application.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the pharmacological effects of Δ9-THC in two human colorectal cancer cell lines. We investigated whether Δ9-THC treatment induces cell death in human colorectal cancer cells.

METHODS

We performed an MTT assay to determine the pharmacological concentration of Δ9-THC. Annxein V and Western blot analysis confirmed that Δ9-THC induced apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells. Metabolic activity was evaluated using MitoTracker staining and ATP determination. We investigated vesicle formation by Δ9-THC treatment using GW9662, known as a PPARγ inhibitor.

RESULTS

The MTT assay showed that treatment with 40 μM Δ9-THC and above inhibited the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells. Multiple intracytoplasmic vesicles were detected upon microscopic observation, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis showed cell death via G1 arrest. Δ9-THC treatment increased the expression of cell death marker proteins, including p53, cleaved PARP-1, RIP1, and RIP3, suggesting that Δ9-THC induced the death of colorectal cancer cells. Δ9-THC treatment also reduced ATP production via changes in Bax and Bcl-2. Δ9-THC regulated intracytoplasmic vesicle formation by modulating the expression of PPARγ and clathrin, adding that antiproliferative activity of Δ9-THC was also affected.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, Δ9-THC regulated two functional mechanisms, intracellular vesicle formation and cell death. These findings can help to determine how cannabinoids can be used most effectively to improve the efficacy of cancer treatment.

Simple Extraction of Cannabinoids from Female Inflorescences of Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.)

The high interest in non-psychoactive cannabidiol increases the need for efficient and straightforward cannabidiol (CBD) extraction methods. The research aimed to compare simple methods of cannabinoid extraction that do not require advanced laboratory equipment. This work assesses the content of total CBD and Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC) in popular solvents such as water and ethanol extracts. Hemp raw material was analyzed with Gas Chromatography with a Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID), while extracts were tested by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The female inflorescences of three varieties of industrial hemp were tested: Futura 75, KC Dora, and Tygra (different sowing and N fertilization densities). Tygra (T/10/30) showed the highest content of CBD (0.064%) in water extracts. However, in 80% tincture from Futura 75 (F/30/30), a higher CBD content of 1.393% was observed. The use of 96% ethanol for extraction and ultrasound enabled the highest CBD content to be obtained: 2.682% in Futura 75 (F/30/30). Cold water extraction showed no effect on Δ⁹-THC content, while hot water extraction increased content from 0.001% in KC Dora to 0.002% in Futura 75 (F/30/30) and Tygra, but the changes were statistically insignificant. Application of 80% ethanol revealed the significantly highest content of Δ⁹-THC in KC Dora, from 0.026% (K/30/90) to 0.057% (K/30/30), as well as in Tygra (T/30/30) (0.036%) and Futura 75 (F/30/30) (0.048%). The use of ethanol extraction in combination with ultrasound could be an efficient method of obtaining cannabinoids.

"Light cannabis" consumption in a sample of young adults: Preliminary pharmacokinetic data and psychomotor impairment evaluation

INTRODUCTION

In 2019, the Italian Supreme Court established that hemp cannot be commercialized for human use, when the "psychotropic effect" of the product or its "offensiveness" can be demonstrated. The aim of the present study is to assess Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) blood concentrations after smoking cannabis with a low percentage of Δ9-THC, also referred as "light cannabis", and its effects on young adults' vigilance, cognitive and motor skills.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighteen young adults consumed three light cannabis cigarettes containing 400 mg of inflorescences each, with a percentage of 0.41% of Δ9-THC and of 12.41% of CBD. Blood samples were collected before the experiment (t0), after each light cannabis cigarette (t1→t3), 60 (t4) and 120 (t5) minutes after the beginning of the experiment. Five performance tasks and a subjective scale were employed for measuring cognitive and psychomotor performances the day before the experiment (TT0) and after the third cigarette (TT1).

RESULTS

Mean (SD) concentrations (ng/ml) were 1.0 (0.8) in t1, 1.2 (0.9) in t2, 1.0 (0.8) in t3, 0.6 (0.4) in t4 and 0.3 (0.3) in t5 for Δ9-THC; 10.5 (10.3) in t1, 10.3 (13.2) in t2, 15.1 (14.8) in t3, 9.9 (9.2) in t4 and 5.7 (5.7) in t5 for CBD. No significant differences were observed between TT0 and TT1 for all performed psychomotor performance task. None of the subjects declared to feel "high" after the experiment.

DISCUSSION

All study participants reported that a higher number of cigarettes, corresponding in this study to 1200 mg of herbal product, could hardly be consumed by smoking in a recreational setting. Δ9-THC and CBD concentrations showed a high inter-subject variability, and the average concentrations were lower than those previously reported. Toxicological results showed a decrease of Δ9-THC and CBD after the third light cannabis cigarette, and a Δ9-THC /CBD ratio always<1 was observed. The lack of impairment observed in our participants can be interpreted as a consequence of the very low concentrations detectable in the blood.

Preparation and Distribution of Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Dosage Formulations for Investigational and Therapeutic Use in the United States

Cannabis is classified as a schedule I controlled substance by the US Drug Enforcement Agency, meaning that it has no medicinal value. Production is legally restricted to a single supplier at the University of Mississippi, and distribution to researchers is tightly controlled. However, a majority of the population is estimated to believe that cannabis has legitimate medical or recreational value, numerous states have legalized or decriminalized possession to some degree, and the federal government does not strictly enforce its law and is considering rescheduling. The explosive increase in open sale and use of herbal cannabis and its products has occurred with widely variable and in many cases grossly inadequate quality control at all levels—growing, processing, storage, distribution, and use. This paper discusses elements of the analytical and regulatory system that need to be put in place to ensure standardization for the researcher and to reduce the hazards of contamination, overdosing, and underdosing for the end-user.