The United Chemicals of Cannabis: Beneficial Effects of Cannabis Phytochemicals on the Brain and Cognition

Abstract

'Medicinal cannabis' can be defined as pharmaceutical grade cannabis-based products used for the treatment of illness. Beneficial treatment effects of cannabidiol (CBD), a major non-intoxicating compound isolated from the cannabis plant, have been shown in multiple states of cognitive impairment, including neurodegenerative (Alzheimer's, Huntington's and Parkinson's disease), neuroinflammatory (sepsis-induced encephalopathy) and neurological disorders (ischemic brain injury). CBD can also treat some of the symptoms of schizophrenia, including cognitive deficits (impairments in learning and memory), which is a major symptom domain of the illness that is largely resistant to existing antipsychotic medications. However, empirical evidence suggests the presence of an 'entourage effect' in cannabis; that is, observations that medicinal cannabis seems to work better in some instances when administered as a whole-plant extract. While scientific evidence highlights isolated CBD as a strong candidate for treating cognitive impairment, the entourage effect suggests that the cooperation of other plant molecules could provide further benefits. This chapter explores the scientific evidence surrounding the benefits of CBD and other specific key phytochemicals in cannabis: linalool, α-pinene, β-caryophyllene, flavonoids and anthocyanin, on brain health and cognition.

Secondary Metabolites Profiled in Cannabis Inflorescences, Leaves, Stem Barks, and Roots for Medicinal Purposes

“…The roots were used for strangury, spotting, vaginal discharge, difficult births, retention of the placenta, and physical injury 32,33 . Although the terminology in historical texts may be different from modern science and the nuances lost in the translation between Chinese and English, the uses of cannabis inflorescence indicated in ancient Chinese literature are comparable to those found in modern preclinical and clinical studies for cannabinoids 76,[82][83][84][85][86] . But modern medicine has not fully developed the medical potential of cannabis leaf, stem bark, and root.…”

“…Cannabis contains more than ten times more friedelin than shala tree. The potential therapeutic properties of the identified compounds have been comprehensively reviewed 5,76 . For example, terpenoids and flavonoids identified in inflorescences and leaves have anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, analgesic, anticonvulsant, antioxidant and neuroprotective, larvicidal, gastroprotective properties, and beneficial effects on the respiratory system [77][78][79][80] .…”

Chemical Characteristics, Therapeutic Uses, and Legal Aspects of the Cannabinoids of Cannabis sativa: A Review

“…In addition, cannabinoids have interaction with several neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, such as gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), histamine, serotonin, dopamine, glutamate, norepinephrine, prostaglandins, and opioid peptides. Cannabis extracts contain 3-5% of δ9-THC, CBN, and CBD, which increases the permeability of the hematoencephalic barrier by making the entry into the brain easier [46]. Entry and distribution of δ9-THC in blood and tissues is quick, with a kinetics similar to the one obtained after its intravenous administration [47].…”

A High-Throughput Method for the Comprehensive Analysis of Terpenes and Terpenoids in Medicinal Cannabis Biomass

“…Cannabis, cannabis extracts, and purified (to varying degrees) major cannabinoids ∆9-tetrahydro cannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are now being used for the treatment of intractable and debilitating illnesses, such as Dravet's Syndrome, and investigated for a range of others [5,7,[10][11][12][13]. When administered as medicinal cannabis extracts, that is, along with the remaining portion of other cannabinoids and non-cannabinoid phytochemicals, less than a quarter of the equivalent dose of purified CBD is required, and markedly lower side effects are commonly observed [7].…”

“…This is in line with a long line of anecdotal evidence that complex plant-based medicines are more effective than their isolated "actives", and has given rise to the concept of the "entourage effect"-the modulating or synergistic effects of phytochemical compounds, such as the minor cannabinoids on the effect of THC [14][15][16]. Despite a current lack of understanding for the underlying mechanisms [17], the concept is increasingly applied to non-cannabinoid cannabis phytochemicals, such as terpenes and terpenoids [6,10,11,18].…”