Anti-Microbial Activity of Phytocannabinoids and Endocannabinoids in the Light of Their Physiological and Pathophysiological Roles

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance has become an increasing challenge in the treatment of various infectious diseases, especially those associated with biofilm formation on biotic and abiotic materials. There is an urgent need for new treatment protocols that can also target biofilm-embedded bacteria. Many secondary metabolites of plants possess anti-bacterial activities, and especially the phytocannabinoids of the Cannabis sativa L. varieties have reached a renaissance and attracted much attention for their anti-microbial and anti-biofilm activities at concentrations below the cytotoxic threshold on normal mammalian cells. Accordingly, many synthetic cannabinoids have been designed with the intention to increase the specificity and selectivity of the compounds. The structurally unrelated endocannabinoids have also been found to have anti-microbial and anti-biofilm activities. Recent data suggest for a mutual communication between the endocannabinoid system and the gut microbiota. The present review focuses on the anti-microbial activities of phytocannabinoids and endocannabinoids integrated with some selected issues of their many physiological and pharmacological activities.

Keywords: Cannabis sativa L.; anti-biofilm activity; anti-microbial activity; endocannabinoids; gut microbiota; pathogens; phytocannabinoids.

Figure 1

The chemical structures of some phytocannabinoids and the synthetic cannabinoid HU-210.

Figure 2

The anti-bacterial activities of phytocannabinoids.

Figure 3

The chemical structures of some endocannabinoids.

Figure 4

The anti-bacterial actions of anandamide on Staphylococcus aureus.

Figure 5

Effect of AEA on Candida albicans gene expression [381]. Genes in red are downregulated by AEA after a 2 h incubation. Genes in green are upregulated by AEA. Genes in light blue are unaffected by AEA. Open circles are genes that have not yet been analyzed. Ultimately, AEA prevents the adherence and hyphal extension of Candida albicans.