scholarly journals The Therapeutic Potential of Cannabis in Counteracting Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (15) ◽  
pp. 4551
Author(s):  
Michał Graczyk ◽  
Agata Anna Lewandowska ◽  
Tomasz Dzierżanowski

Significant growth of interest in cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.), especially its natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties, has been observed recently. This narrative review aimed to present the state of the art of research concerning the anti-inflammatory activity of all classes of cannabinoids published in the last five years. Multimodal properties of cannabinoids include their involvement in immunological processes, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative effects. Cannabinoids and non-cannabinoid compounds of cannabis proved their anti-inflammatory effects in numerous animal models. The research in humans is missing, and the results are unconvincing. Although preclinical evidence suggests cannabinoids are of value in treating chronic inflammatory diseases, the clinical evidence is scarce, and further well-designed clinical trials are essential to determine the prospects for using cannabinoids in inflammatory conditions.

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (18) ◽  
pp. 10049
Author(s):  
Lisa M. Sevilla ◽  
Alba Jiménez-Panizo ◽  
Andrea Alegre-Martí ◽  
Eva Estébanez-Perpiñá ◽  
Carme Caelles ◽  
...  

Endogenous glucocorticoids (GCs) are steroid hormones that signal in virtually all cell types to modulate tissue homeostasis throughout life. Also, synthetic GC derivatives (pharmacological GCs) constitute the first-line treatment in many chronic inflammatory conditions with unquestionable therapeutic benefits despite the associated adverse effects. GC actions are principally mediated through the GC receptor (GR), a ligand-dependent transcription factor. Despite the ubiquitous expression of GR, imbalances in GC signalling affect tissues differently, and with variable degrees of severity through mechanisms that are not completely deciphered. Congenital or acquired GC hypersensitivity or resistance syndromes can impact responsiveness to endogenous or pharmacological GCs, causing disease or inadequate therapeutic outcomes, respectively. Acquired GC resistance is defined as loss of efficacy or desensitization over time, and arises as a consequence of chronic inflammation, affecting around 30% of GC-treated patients. It represents an important limitation in the management of chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer, and can be due to impairment of multiple mechanisms along the GC signalling pathway. Among them, activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and/or alterations in expression of their regulators, the dual-specific phosphatases (DUSPs), have been identified as common mechanisms of GC resistance. While many of the anti-inflammatory actions of GCs rely on GR-mediated inhibition of MAPKs and/or induction of DUSPs, the GC anti-inflammatory capacity is decreased or lost in conditions of excessive MAPK activation, contributing to disease susceptibility in tissue- and disease- specific manners. Here, we discuss potential strategies to modulate GC responsiveness, with the dual goal of overcoming GC resistance and minimizing the onset and severity of unwanted adverse effects while maintaining therapeutic potential.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1704
Author(s):  
Diego Angosto-Bazarra ◽  
Cristina Molina-López ◽  
Alejandro Peñín-Franch ◽  
Laura Hurtado-Navarro ◽  
Pablo Pelegrín

Inflammasomes are immune cytosolic oligomers involved in the initiation and progression of multiple pathologies and diseases. The tight regulation of these immune sensors is necessary to control an optimal inflammatory response and recover organism homeostasis. Prolonged activation of inflammasomes result in the development of chronic inflammatory diseases, and the use of small drug-like inhibitory molecules are emerging as promising anti-inflammatory therapies. Different aspects have to be taken in consideration when designing inflammasome inhibitors. This review summarizes the different techniques that can be used to study the mechanism of action of potential inflammasome inhibitory molecules.


2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (06) ◽  
pp. 1111-1125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Jahangir Hossen ◽  
Mi-Yeon Kim ◽  
Jae Youl Cho

Xanthium strumarium L. (Asteraceae), a traditional Chinese medicine, is prescribed to treat arthritis, bronchitis, and rhinitis. Although the plant has been used for many years, the mechanism by which it ameliorates various inflammatory diseases is not yet fully understood. To explore the anti-inflammatory mechanism of methanol extracts of X. strumarium (Xs-ME) and its therapeutic potential, we used lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells and human monocyte-like U937 cells as well as a LPS/D-galactosamine (GalN)-induced acute hepatitis mouse model. To find the target inflammatory pathway, we used holistic immunoblotting analysis, reporter gene assays, and mRNA analysis. Xs-ME significantly suppressed the up-regulation of both the activator protein (AP)-1-mediated luciferase activity and the production of LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1[Formula: see text], IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-[Formula: see text]. Moreover, Xs-ME strongly inhibited the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 and U937 cells. Additionally, these results highlighted the hepatoprotective and curative effects of Xs-ME in a mouse model of LPS/D-GalN-induced acute liver injury, as assessed by elevated serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and histological damage. Therefore, our results strongly suggest that the ethnopharmacological roles of Xs-ME in hepatitis and other inflammatory diseases might result from its inhibitory activities on the inflammatory signaling of MAPK and AP-1.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamad Hesam Shahrajabian

: One of the principal causes of different disorders is an uncontrolled inflammatory response. Alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenolic, proanthocyanidin, terpenoid, and steroid compounds are the main reasons for the anti-inflammatory activities of medicinal herbs and plants. The current manuscript introduces a series of potential anti-inflammatory plants, particularly those which are routines in Iranian and Chinese traditional herbal medicine, and simplifies the function and mechanisms of natural constituents for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory disorders. PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Wiley Online Library, Springer, Taylor, Francis, etc., have been used to search for collecting of scientific publications for a full evaluation of current documentation in the literature showing the importance of medicinal plants with anti-inflammatory characteristics and natural medicines. The most notable medicinal plants with anti-inflammatory activities are Baccharis dracunculifolia, Aconitum bulleyanum, Crateya adansonii, Alliums spp., Centella asiatica, Flos lonicerae, Corydalis dubia, Syringae folium, Coptis chinensis, Casearia decandra, Nigella sativa, Cannabis sativa, Tamarindus indica L., Glycyrrhiza glabra, Panax ginseng, Panax notoginseng, Pistacia vera, Smilax china, Scutellaria baicalensis, Rosemarinus officinalis, Moringa olifera, Pulsatilla radix, Pistacia atlantica, Rullia tuberose, Canarium album, Dodonaea polyandra, Forsythia suspense, Polygala tenuifolia, Radiz Isatidis, Hypericum sampsonii, Geranium koreanum, Typha capensis, Isatidis folium, Ginkgo biloba, Houttuynia cordata, snow lotus, etc. Herbal medicine mainly uses numerous parts of plants or combinations of them to prevent and remedy diseases and promote health. More investigations and clinical experiments are needed to provide more information on the importance of medicinal plants as well as their roles in the treatment and prevention of inflammatory diseases.


2022 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-62
Author(s):  
Andrea Dandić ◽  
Katarina Rajkovača ◽  
Marija Jozanović ◽  
Iva Pukleš ◽  
Aleksandar Széchenyi ◽  
...  

Abstract Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the first choice of treatment for rheumatic disorders and other degenerative inflammatory diseases. One of them, indomethacin (INDO), is highlighted in this study. With its analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory properties, it is one of the most powerful drugs used in various clinical trials and therapies related to the mechanism of blocking prostaglandin synthesis, thus reducing and eliminating many inflammatory conditions in patients. To ensure the efficacy and safety of this drug in pharmaceutical and clinical use, precise product quality control is required. Such control is performed with routine pharmaceutical analysis using various chemical methods by which INDO is identified as a separate active ingredient in the multicomponent system of a complete pharmaceutical form. In addition, the determination of INDO is important in clinical practice, where its concentration is determined in different biological samples, ensuring better monitoring of a particular therapy. The most commonly used methods for the determination of INDO are high-performance liquid chromatography (37% of developed methods), voltammetry (16% of developed methods), and UV spectroscopy (11% of developed methods). However, each of these methods must provide precise validation parameters. A combination of analytical methods can lead to more precise results and safer application in practice.


Antioxidants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1107
Author(s):  
Emilie Logie ◽  
Wim Vanden Berghe

Chronic inflammatory diseases are considered to be one of the biggest threats to human health. Most prescribed pharmaceutical drugs aiming to treat these diseases are characterized by side-effects and negatively affect therapy adherence. Finding alternative treatment strategies to tackle chronic inflammation has therefore been gaining interest over the last few decades. In this context, Withaferin A (WA), a natural bioactive compound isolated from Withania somnifera, has been identified as a promising anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory compound. Although the majority of studies focus on the molecular mechanisms of WA in cancer models, recent evidence demonstrates that WA also holds promise as a new phytotherapeutic agent against chronic inflammatory diseases. By targeting crucial inflammatory pathways, including nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling, WA suppresses the inflammatory disease state in several in vitro and preclinical in vivo models of diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative disorders, cystic fibrosis and osteoarthritis. This review provides a concise overview of the molecular mechanisms by which WA orchestrates its anti-inflammatory effects to restore immune homeostasis.


2016 ◽  
Vol 78 (6-8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Smirnov Ivan ◽  
Murashko Tatyana ◽  
Ivanov Alex ◽  
Bondarev Alex ◽  
Udut Vladimir

Chronic inflammatory diseases of various genesis are prevalent today. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used to treat pain and inflammation, but their long-term use is associated with complications in the gastrointestinal tract, including peptic ulcers. We synthesized a molecule of sodium salt (4-О-β-glucopyranosyloxy)-benzoic acid. This substance has diuretic and anti-inflammatory activities. It should be noted that most of NSAIDs has analgesic effect. In this connection, the aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic activity of sodium salt (4-О-β-glucopyranosyloxy)-benzoic acid. We studied analgesic effect in the test “acetic writhing”. Sodium salt (4-О-β-glucopyranosyloxy)-benzoic acid significantly reduces the number of writhing by 14 units during the experiment, as an alternative criterion percent of animals with analgesia was 42.6%. Thus, in the test "acetic writhing" revealed the presence of the analgesic activity have developed drug average severity. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 8340
Author(s):  
Emma Probst Brandum ◽  
Astrid Sissel Jørgensen ◽  
Mette Marie Rosenkilde ◽  
Gertrud Malene Hjortø

Chemotactic cytokines—chemokines—control immune cell migration in the process of initiation and resolution of inflammatory conditions as part of the body’s defense system. Many chemokines also participate in pathological processes leading up to and exacerbating the inflammatory state characterizing chronic inflammatory diseases. In this review, we discuss the role of dendritic cells (DCs) and the central chemokine receptor CCR7 in the initiation and sustainment of selected chronic inflammatory diseases: multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and psoriasis. We revisit the binary role that CCR7 plays in combatting and progressing cancer, and we discuss how CCR7 and DCs can be harnessed for the treatment of cancer. To provide the necessary background, we review the differential roles of the natural ligands of CCR7, CCL19, and CCL21 and how they direct the mobilization of activated DCs to lymphoid organs and control the formation of associated lymphoid tissues (ALTs). We provide an overview of DC subsets and, briefly, elaborate on the different T-cell effector types generated upon DC–T cell priming. In the conclusion, we promote CCR7 as a possible target of future drugs with an antagonistic effect to reduce inflammation in chronic inflammatory diseases and an agonistic effect for boosting the reactivation of the immune system against cancer in cell-based and/or immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based anti-cancer therapy.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Byeongjin YE ◽  
Hyug Moo Kwon ◽  
Soo Youn Choi ◽  
Jun Ho Lee ◽  
Hyun Je Kang ◽  
...  

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