Research

United States Patent on CBD as a Neuro-Protectant
United States Patent Office
Cannabinoids have been found to have antioxidant properties that are useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of wide variety of oxidation associated diseases, such as ischemic, age-related, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

An Upadate on Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol
National Institute of Health
In general, the often described favorable safety profile of CBD in humans was confirmed and extended by the reviewed research. In comparison with other drugs, used for the treatment of these medical conditions, CBD has a better side effect profile.

Cannabinoid Signaling in the Skin: Therapeutic Potential of the “C(ut)annabinoid” System
National Institute of Health
Although the best studied functions over the ECS are related to the central nervous system and to immune processes, experimental efforts over the last two decades have unambiguously confirmed that cutaneous cannabinoid (“c[ut]annabinoid”) signaling is deeply involved in the maintenance of skin homeostasis, barrier formation and regeneration, and its dysregulation was implicated to contribute to several highly prevalent diseases and disorders, e.g., atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, scleroderma, acne, hair growth and pigmentation disorders, keratin diseases, various tumors, and itch.

A Therapeutic Effect of CBD-Enriched Ointment in Inflammatory Skin Diseases and Cutaneous Scars.
National Institute of Health
The topical administration of CBD ointment, without any THC, is a safe and effective non-invasive alternative for improve the quality of life in patients with some skin disorders, especially on inflammatory background.

Epigenetic Control of Skin Differentiation Genes by Phytocannabinoids.
National Institute of Health
These findings show that the phytocannabinoids cannabidiol and cannabigerol are transcriptional repressors that can control cell proliferation and differentiation. This indicates that they (especially cannabidiol) have the potential to be lead compounds for the development of novel therapeutics for skin diseases.

Cannabinoid Receptor 1-Mediated Signaling Down-Regulates the Expression of Keratinocytes.
National Institute of Health
Given recent appreciation of the role of K6 as a functionally important protein that regulates epithelial wound healing in mice, it is conceivable that the novel CB1-mediated regulation of keratin 6/16 revealed here also is relevant to wound healing. Taken together, our results suggest that cannabinoids and their receptors constitute a novel, clinically relevant control element of human K6 and K16 expression.

Endocannabinoids Modulate Human Epidermal Keratinocyte Proliferation and Surviva.
National Institute of Health
Using human cultured KCs and skin organ-culture models, and by employing combined pharmacological and molecular approaches, we provide early evidence that AEA markedly suppresses KC proliferation and induces cell death, both in vitro and in situ. Moreover, we present that these cellular actions are mediated by a most probably constitutively active signaling mechanism that involves the activation of the metabotropic cannabinoid receptor CB(1) and a sequential engagement of the "ionotropic cannabinoid receptor" transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1).

Cannabinoid 1 Receptors in Keratinocytes Modulate Proinflammatory Secretion & Allergic Inflammation.
National Institute of Health
Further investigations established CCL8 as a proinflammatory chemokine regulated by CB1 receptors that promotes immune cell recruitment to allergen-challenged skin. Taken together, these results demonstrate that CB1 receptors are functionally expressed by KCs in vivo and help to limit the secretion of proinflammatory chemokines that regulate T cell-dependent inflammation in the effector phase of CHS.

Attenuation of Allergic Contact Dermatitis Through the Endocannabinoid System.
National Institute of Health
Cannabinoid receptor antagonists exacerbated allergic inflammation, whereas receptor agonists attenuated inflammation. These results demonstrate a protective role of the endocannabinoid system in contact allergy in the skin and suggest a target for therapeutic intervention.

[Topical Cannabinoid Agonists. An Effective New Possibility for Treating Chronic Pruritus].
National Institute of Health
Topical cannabinoid agonists represent an new effective and well-tolerated therapy for refractory itching of various origins. Creams with a higher concentration may be even more effective with broader indications.

Cannabidiol Upregulates Melanogenesis Through CB1 Dependent Pathway by Activating P38/42/44 MAPK.
National Institute of Health
Taken together, these findings indicate that cannabidiol-induced melanogenesis is cannabinoid CB1 receptor-dependent, and cannabidiol induces melanogenesis through increasing MITF gene expression which is mediated by activation of p38 MAPK and p42/44 MAPK. Our results suggest that cannabidiol might be useful as a protective agent against external stresses.

Cannabinoids Inhibit Human Keratinocyte Proliferation & Have Potential Therapeutic Value in Treatment of Psoriasis.
National Institute of Health
The results indicate that while CB receptors may have a circumstantial role in keratinocyte proliferation, they do not contribute significantly to this process. Our results show that cannabinoids inhibit keratinocyte proliferation, and therefore support a potential role for cannabinoids in the treatment of psoriasis.

Cannabidiol Exerts Sebostatic and Antiinflammatory Effects on Human Sebocytes.
National Institute of Health
CBD also exerted complex antiinflammatory actions that were coupled to A2a adenosine receptor-dependent upregulation of tribbles homolog 3 (TRIB3) and inhibition of the NF-κB signaling. Collectively, our findings suggest that, due to the combined lipostatic, antiproliferative, and antiinflammatory effects, CBD has potential as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of acne vulgaris.

The Endocannabinoid System of the Skin in Health and Disease: Novel Perspectives and Therapeutic Opportunities.
National Institute of Health
It seems that the main physiological function of the cutaneous ECS is to constitutively control the proper and well-balanced proliferation, differentiation and survival, as well as immune competence and/or tolerance, of skin cells. The disruption of this delicate balance might facilitate the development of multiple pathological conditions and diseases of the skin (e.g. acne, seborrhea, allergic dermatitis, itch and pain, psoriasis, hair growth disorders, systemic sclerosis and cancer).