{"id":6766,"date":"2022-05-12T03:31:32","date_gmt":"2022-05-12T03:31:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ultimatehealthreport.com\/cbd-the-promiscuous-cannabinoid-project-cbd\/"},"modified":"2022-05-12T03:31:32","modified_gmt":"2022-05-12T03:31:32","slug":"cbd-the-promiscuous-cannabinoid-project-cbd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ultimatehealthreport.com\/cbd-the-promiscuous-cannabinoid-project-cbd\/","title":{"rendered":"CBD, the Promiscuous Cannabinoid | Project CBD"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div property=\"content:encoded\">\n<p>What\u2019s so special about <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span>? Why all the hype? Let\u2019s strip it down to the basics.<\/p>\n<p>Discovered more than 80 years ago,<sup id=\"fnref:1\">1<\/sup>\u00a0 <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span>\/cannabidiol is a chemical compound found only in the cannabis plant. In high-<span class=\"caps\">THC<\/span>\/tetrahydrocannabinol cannabis \u201cstrains\u201d \u2013 those with the most pronounced psychoactive effect \u2013 <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> is typically the second-most abundant cannabinoid. But there are also cannabis varietals with more or less equal parts <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> and <span class=\"caps\">THC<\/span>, as well as <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span>-rich cannabis and \u201chemp\u201d plants with little <span class=\"caps\">THC<\/span>.<sup id=\"fnref:2\">2<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Though structurally similar, <span class=\"caps\">THC<\/span> and <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> act in different ways on various receptors in the brain and throughout the body. Both compounds are hypotensive, lowering blood pressure, and neurogenic, stimulating brain cell growth. But <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> and <span class=\"caps\">THC<\/span> also exert opposing effects at the <span class=\"caps\">CB1<\/span> cannabinoid receptor. <span class=\"caps\">THC<\/span> is notorious for inducing \u201cthe munchies,\u201d for example, while <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> lessens appetite and lowers the ceiling on the <span class=\"caps\">THC<\/span> high.<sup id=\"fnref:3\">3<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Overall, <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> has a significantly broader range of pharmacological action than <span class=\"caps\">THC<\/span> or any other known plant cannabinoid, of which there are more than 100. A recent paper highlights the role of transient receptor potential [<span class=\"caps\">TRP<\/span>] ion channels in mediating <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span>\u2019s effects on seizure, inflammation, cancer, pain, acne, and vasorelaxation.<sup id=\"fnref:4\">4<\/sup>\u00a0 <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> also binds to serotonin receptors and <span class=\"caps\">PPAR<\/span> nuclear receptors that regulate lipid metabolism and gene expression.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"pull-right\">\n<p><span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> has a much broader range of pharmacological action than <span class=\"caps\">THC<\/span> or any other plant cannabinoid.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p>It\u2019s this \u201cpromiscuous\u201d nature, coupled with the extensive reach of the endocannabinoid system anchored to <span class=\"caps\">CB1<\/span> and <span class=\"caps\">CB2<\/span> receptors throughout the human body, that explains why <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> can affect such a broad range of physiological processes \u2013 and why there continues to be so much clinical and pre-clinical research focused on its therapeutic potential.<\/p>\n<p>Below are some of the latest medical science findings: evidence of, if nothing else, <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span>\u2019s sheer versatility.<\/p>\n<h2>Killing Harmful Bacteria<\/h2>\n<p>The authors of a new study in the journal <em>Scientific Reports<\/em><sup id=\"fnref:5\">5<\/sup>\u00a0 suggest that <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> could be \u201crepurposed\u201d as an antibacterial agent in clinical trials given its ability in lab experiments to counteract a variety of harmful bacteria, including some classified as multidrug-resistant. Pure <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> exhibited antibacterial activity against all 21 strains of Gram-positive bacteria tested, as well as against lipooligosaccharide-expressing bacteria and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (the cause of tuberculosis).<\/p>\n<p>But <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> performed better, especially against problematic Gram-negative bacteria, when paired with low concentrations of the powerful antibiotic\u2009polymyxin B, suggesting an additive or synergistic effect that could reduce reliance on this drug of last resort \u2013 and thus help maintain its efficacy. \u201cWe highlight the promising translational potential of <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> repurposing as an antibacterial agent, mainly in the combination [of] <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span>\u2009plus\u2009polymyxin B against Gram-negative bacteria, for rescue treatment for life-threatening infections,\u201d the authors write.<\/p>\n<div class=\"callout\"><\/div>\n<h2>Healing Depressive Symptoms<\/h2>\n<p>The downstream effects of <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span>\u2019s wide-ranging activity in the brain are key to a recent study of depressive-like behaviors in mice. Here\u2019s the rationale followed by the China-based researchers, whose work was published in February 2022 in the journal <em>Frontiers of Medicine:<\/em><sup id=\"fnref:6\">6<\/sup> A growing body of evidence suggests <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> may be an effective antidepressant, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. It\u2019s known that chronic stress impairs neural stem cell differentiation and adult hippocampal neurogenesis (<span class=\"caps\">AHN<\/span>), and that promoting <span class=\"caps\">AHN<\/span> can increase stress resilience against depression, the study authors write. So could this be a pathway through which <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> exerts an anti-depressive effect?<\/p>\n<p>Based upon an experiment in which <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> administration relieved depression and anxiety symptoms in stressed mice, the authors think so. While the findings don\u2019t implicate a specific receptor or molecular target, they do reveal a previously unknown mechanism for neural differentiation and <span class=\"caps\">AHN<\/span> in depression, the researchers write, and provide mechanistic insights into the antidepressive effects of <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span>. While they\u2019re optimistic about the implications (\u201cundeniable direct evidence that <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> could be a potential treatment option for depression\u201d), the authors acknowledge that much more is left to learn \u2013 especially in humans. \u201cThis study highlighted the need to deepen our understanding of <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span>-induced neurobiological effects to understand fully the therapeutic potential of this phytocannabinoid in psychiatric disorders,\u201d they conclude.<\/p>\n<div class=\"callout\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" typeof=\"foaf:Image\" class=\"img-responsive\" src=\"https:\/\/www.projectcbd.org\/sites\/projectcbd\/files\/styles\/related_content_popout\/public\/field\/image\/xguts_sq_0.png,qitok=-PhV0tIZ.pagespeed.ic.jiw1-2WQxF.jpg\" width=\"670\" height=\"350\" alt=\"\"\/><\/div>\n<h2>Reducing High-<span class=\"caps\">THC<\/span> Cannabis Use<\/h2>\n<p>Could <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span>-rich cannabis help people who engage in problematic use of high-<span class=\"caps\">THC<\/span> cannabis? A March 2022 paper in <em>Frontiers in Psychiatry<\/em><sup id=\"fnref:7\">7<\/sup>\u00a0 describes a survey out of France in which 11 percent of cannabis-consuming respondents (n=105) reported using <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> (mostly via smoked hemp-<span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> flower) for the primary purpose of reducing consumption of illegal, high-<span class=\"caps\">THC<\/span> cannabis. Of these, more than half reported a \u201clarge,\u201d real-world reduction in high-<span class=\"caps\">THC<\/span> cannabis use.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"pull-right\">\n<p>In a French study, <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> diminished the desire for high-<span class=\"caps\">THC<\/span> cannabis.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p>But the next survey question was even more interesting: when asked how, exactly, <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> use reduced overall consumption, most respondents cited \u201creducing cannabis withdrawal symptoms.\u201d (Other options included \u201cdelaying first illegal cannabis joint of the day,\u201d \u201cusing less illegal cannabis in joints,\u201d and \u201cincreasing the time between smoking joints.\u201d) This suggests they weren\u2019t using high-<span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> flower as a simple placebo or filler, but rather because the <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> actually diminished their desire for high-<span class=\"caps\">THC<\/span> cannabis.<\/p>\n<p>Again, these findings appear at least partially predicated upon the fact that in France high-<span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> hemp flower is legal and high-<span class=\"caps\">THC<\/span> flower is illegal. But the notion that <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> can ameliorate some unwanted side effects of too much <span class=\"caps\">THC<\/span> is sound. In fact, earlier this year researchers in Colorado reported that cannabis with a balanced 1:1 <span class=\"caps\">THC<\/span>:<span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> ratio was associated with similar levels of positive subjective effects, but significantly less paranoia and anxiety, as compared to high-<span class=\"caps\">THC<\/span>, low-<span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span> bud.<sup id=\"fnref:8\">8<\/sup><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><em>Nate Seltenrich, an independent science journalist based in the San Francisco Bay Area, covers a wide range of subjects including environmental health, neuroscience, and pharmacology.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Copyright, Project <span class=\"caps\">CBD<\/span>. May not be reprinted without permission.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>Footnotes<\/h2>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.projectcbd.org\/cbd-promiscuous-cannabinoid\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What\u2019s so special about CBD? Why all the hype? Let\u2019s strip it down to the basics. Discovered more than 80 years ago,1\u00a0 CBD\/cannabidiol is a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6767,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ultimatehealthreport.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6766"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ultimatehealthreport.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ultimatehealthreport.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ultimatehealthreport.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ultimatehealthreport.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6766"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ultimatehealthreport.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6766\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ultimatehealthreport.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6767"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ultimatehealthreport.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6766"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ultimatehealthreport.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6766"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ultimatehealthreport.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6766"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}