What is the endocannabinoid system?
What is cannabidiol (CBD)?
Cannabidiol (CBD) was discovered in the 1940s and is one of the active compounds in the cannabis plant. CBD does not produce psychoactive effects because it does not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the ingredient in the marijuana plant that makes a person feel intoxicated. According to a report by the World Health Organisation, CBD has shown a good safety profile and has not caused addiction or health problems. In recent years, CBD has become a promising target for therapeutic and pharmaceutical drugs. In particular, CBD has shown beneficial effects against inflammation, pain, ageing, anxiety and insomnia.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1760722/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-2018082414476
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Cannabidiol
What is the endocannabinoid system?
The human body is made up of several biological systems, including the endocannabinoid (EC) system. The EC system was first discovered by scientists in the early 1990s, showing that it consists of cannabinoid receptors, endocannabinoids and a variety of related enzymes that are abundantly expressed throughout the body. Two cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, are found in the human body and play a number of regulatory roles in maintaining a balanced physiological state of the body. Cannabinoids can bind to endocannabinoid receptors, which are small proteins attached to the surface of our cells. The CB1 receptor is found in the central nervous system, the heart, the digestive tract and immune cells, while CB2 receptors are mainly found in immune cells. The CB1 and CB2 receptors can be stimulated by two types of cannabinoids, either molecules naturally present in the body (endocannabinoids) or compounds present in the cannabis plant (phytocannabinoids). The human body itself produces endocannabinoid molecules, which include anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). The plant-derived molecule CBD is a phytocannabinoid that regulates the action of the CB1 receptor and therefore influences immune response, pain perception, memory and nutrient metabolism.
References:
https://sonapharmacy.com/what-is-the-endocannabinoid-system/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0163782717300619?via%3Dihub
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/best-cbd-for-pain-management#cbd-and-pain
What are the benefits of CBD for the body?
Over the past few decades, scientists around the world have been working on the EC system and how it is affected by different cannabinoids. Preclinical studies show that CBD is an effective therapeutic agent involved in protecting nerve cells, improving heart function, anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing.
Recent studies have shown that CBD plays an important role in chronic inflammatory pain by interacting with spinal neuroreceptors. CBD may also enhance the effects of AEA. As mentioned earlier, AEA is a molecule produced in our body that reduces pain. Another study conducted in 2018 with a group of people experiencing chronic pain showed that CBD reduced pain in 80% of participants.
In addition, studies show that CBD is an effective compound in the fight against acute and chronic inflammation by affecting our EC system. A 2017 study showed that CBD has a positive effect on inflammation caused by osteoarthritis. A review published in 2009 showed that CBD may be associated with reducing acute inflammation, which is commonly caused by injury.
A growing body of research shows that CBD has beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system in animal models. A 2013 study showed that CBD had a direct effect on the arteries, promoting vascular relaxation. In addition, it has been suggested that CBD acts as a protective measure against vascular damage that can be caused by inflammation or diabetes. The use of CBD in the treatment of cardiac disorders has shown that it prevents ischaemia and reperfusion injury, cardiomyopathy associated with diabetes and reduces the likelihood of heart attack. In addition, CBD has increased blood flow in stroke models and has an effect on white blood cell survival.
Studies with CBD on the skin have shown it to be an effective anti-ageing remedy, as CBD reduces oxidative stress and inflammation. CBD's effects on the skin include the EC system, which plays an important role in stopping ageing by maintaining balanced skin homeostasis, barrier function and optimal sebum production. A 2019 study showed that CBD can have an impact on the treatment of skin diseases such as psoriasis, dermatitis and eczema. CBD can help reduce itching and dry skin.
In conclusion, CBD has great potential to become one of the main pharmaceutical drugs used to treat neurological, cardiac, gastrointestinal and immune diseases. In addition, CBD is becoming one of the most commonly used ingredients in the cosmetic industry to combat various skin diseases and skin ageing.
References:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-020-05712-8
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/best-cbd-for-pain-management#cbd-and-pain
https://www.healthline.com/health/cbd-tinctures-for-inflammation#research
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3579247/
