Beyond Pain Relief: A Review on Cannabidiol Potential in Medical Therapies
- PMID: 37259306
- PMCID: PMC9958812
- DOI: 10.3390/ph16020155
Beyond Pain Relief: A Review on Cannabidiol Potential in Medical Therapies
Abstract
The phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) is receiving increasing attention due to its pharmacological properties. Although CBD is extracted from Cannabis sativa, it lacks the psychoactive effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and has become an attractive compound for pharmacological uses due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, and anxiolytic potential. The molecular mechanisms involved in CBD's biological effects are not limited to its interaction with classical cannabinoid receptors, exerting anti-inflammatory or pain-relief effects. Several pieces of evidence demonstrate that CBD interacts with other receptors and cellular signaling cascades, which further support CBD's therapeutic potential beyond pain management. In this review, we take a closer look at the molecular mechanisms of CBD and its potential therapeutic application in the context of cancer, neurodegeneration, and autoimmune diseases.
Keywords: auto immune diseases; cancer; cannabidiol; cannabinoids; neurologic conditions.
Conflict of interest statement
JCF is an employee of Amyris Bio Products Portugal. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Figures
Similar articles
-
Cannabidiol Exerts Anticonvulsant Effects Alone and in Combination with Δ9-THC through the 5-HT1A Receptor in the Neocortex of Mice.Cells. 2024 Mar 7;13(6):466. doi: 10.3390/cells13060466. Cells. 2024. PMID: 38534310 Free PMC article.
-
An Overview of Cannabidiol as a Multifunctional Drug: Pharmacokinetics and Cellular Effects.Molecules. 2024 Jan 18;29(2):473. doi: 10.3390/molecules29020473. Molecules. 2024. PMID: 38257386 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Use of cannabidiol (CBD) for the treatment of chronic pain.Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol. 2020 Sep;34(3):463-477. doi: 10.1016/j.bpa.2020.06.004. Epub 2020 Jul 2. Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol. 2020. PMID: 33004159 Review.
-
Cannabidiol for Pain Treatment: Focus on Pharmacology and Mechanism of Action.Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Nov 23;21(22):8870. doi: 10.3390/ijms21228870. Int J Mol Sci. 2020. PMID: 33238607 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Cannabinoids as Immune System Modulators: Cannabidiol Potential Therapeutic Approaches and Limitations.Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2023 Apr;8(2):254-269. doi: 10.1089/can.2022.0133. Epub 2022 Nov 22. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2023. PMID: 36413346 Review.
Cited by
-
Cannabidiol (CBD) Acts as an Antioxidant on Gardnerella vaginalis, Resulting in Reduced Metabolic Activity, Loss of Survivability, and Elimination of Biofilms.Antibiotics (Basel). 2025 Feb 1;14(2):136. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics14020136. Antibiotics (Basel). 2025. PMID: 40001381 Free PMC article.
-
Cannabidiol and Tetrahydrocannabinol Antinociceptive Activity is Mediated by Distinct Receptors in Caenorhabditis elegans.Neurochem Res. 2024 Apr;49(4):935-948. doi: 10.1007/s11064-023-04069-6. Epub 2023 Dec 23. Neurochem Res. 2024. PMID: 38141130
-
A Review on Natural Antioxidants for Their Role in the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease.Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2023 Jun 21;16(7):908. doi: 10.3390/ph16070908. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2023. PMID: 37513820 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Cannabidiol in Foods and Food Supplements: Evaluation of Health Risks and Health Claims.Nutrients. 2025 Jan 29;17(3):489. doi: 10.3390/nu17030489. Nutrients. 2025. PMID: 39940347 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Utilization of Cannabidiol in Post-Organ-Transplant Care.Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Jan 15;26(2):699. doi: 10.3390/ijms26020699. Int J Mol Sci. 2025. PMID: 39859413 Free PMC article. Review.
References
Publication types
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources