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Review
. 2018 Sep 21:9:2009.
doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02009. eCollection 2018.

Translational Investigation of the Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol (CBD): Toward a New Age

José A Crippa  1   2 , Francisco S Guimarães  2   3 , Alline C Campos  2   3 , Antonio W Zuardi  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Translational Investigation of the Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol (CBD): Toward a New Age

José A Crippa et al. Front Immunol. .

Abstract

Background: Among the many cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound that does not produce the typical subjective effects of marijuana. Objectives: The aim of the present review is to describe the main advances in the development of the experimental and clinical use of cannabidiol CBD in neuropsychiatry. Methods: A non-systematic search was performed for studies dealing with therapeutic applications of CBD, especially performed by Brazilian researchers. Results: CBD was shown to have anxiolytic, antipsychotic and neuroprotective properties. In addition, basic and clinical investigations on the effects of CBD have been carried out in the context of many other health conditions, including its potential use in epilepsy, substance abuse and dependence, schizophrenia, social phobia, post-traumatic stress, depression, bipolar disorder, sleep disorders, and Parkinson. Discussion: CBD is an useful and promising molecule that may help patients with a number of clinical conditions. Controlled clinical trials with different neuropsychiatric populations that are currently under investigation should bring important answers in the near future and support the translation of research findings to clinical settings.

Keywords: CBD; Cannabis sativa; antiepileptic; anxiolytic; cannabidiol; neuroprotection.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Chemical structures of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) (5).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Scores in the anxiety factor of the Visual Analog Mood Scale (VAMS) measured during the performance phase of the Simulated Public Speaking Test in healthy volunteers treated with cannabidiol 150 mg (n = 15); 300 mg (n = 15); 600 mg (n = 12); or placebo (n = 15). *Statistically significant differences from the placebo group.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Brain sites associated with the anxiolytic effects of CBD. PL, prelimbic mPFC; IL, infralimbic mPFC; BNST, bed nucleus of the stria terminallis; dPAG, dorsal periaqueductal gray; EPM, elevated plus maze; CER, conditioned emotional response; ETM, elevated T-maze.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Focus of significantly increased (yellow) and decreased (blue) rCBF in the left hippocampal area in healthy subjects (A) (57) and subjects with social anxiety disorder (SAD; B) (59) following the administration of CBD vs. placebo.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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