An Overview of Cannabidiol as a Multifunctional Drug: Pharmacokinetics and Cellular Effects

Abstract

Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound derived from Cannabis Sativa, has garnered increasing attention for its diverse therapeutic potential. This comprehensive review delves into the complex pharmacokinetics of CBD, including factors such as bioavailability, distribution, safety profile, and dosage recommendations, which contribute to the compound's pharmacological profile. CBD's role as a pharmacological inhibitor is explored, encompassing interactions with the endocannabinoid system and ion channels. The compound's anti-inflammatory effects, influencing the Interferon-beta and NF-κB, position it as a versatile candidate for immune system regulation and interventions in inflammatory processes. The historical context of Cannabis Sativa's use for recreational and medicinal purposes adds depth to the discussion, emphasizing CBD's emergence as a pivotal phytocannabinoid. As research continues, CBD's integration into clinical practice holds promise for revolutionizing treatment approaches and enhancing patient outcomes. The evolution in CBD research encourages ongoing exploration, offering the prospect of unlocking new therapeutic utility.

Keywords: CBD; anti-inflammatory; antioxidant; cannabidiol; cellular effects; pharmacokinetics.

Figure 5

Summary of the effects of CBD in different organ systems and diseases such as neurodegenerative conditions, pain management, cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, heart diseases, vascular diseases, diabetes, and hypertension [54,57,58,71,104,110,125,126,137,138,144,148,151,152,167,168,169,170,181,182,185,201,202,205,211,214,215,218,219,220,221,224,226,227,229,232,233,235,236,241].

Figure 1

3D chemical structures of CBD (PubChem CID: 644019 [29]) and Δ9-THC (PubChem CID: 16078 [30]). The main difference between both compounds is that CBD contains a hydroxyl group while THC possesses a cyclic ring. Gray spheres represent carbon atoms, and red spheres represent oxygen atoms [9,31].

Figure 2

CBD structure. Carbons atoms are represented in grey, Oxygen atoms in red and Hydrogen atoms in white. The arrangement of the cation-free radicals in CBD is illustrated through green circles, and the arrows indicate the resonance of electrons within the molecule in both 2D and 3D images. These sites on ether and alkyl moieties and in the benzene ring are potentially responsible for the antioxidant properties of CBD [27,28,32].

Figure 3

Main targets of CBD inhibitory function. Schematic figure with the ion channels and the receptors inhibited by CBD with reported intracellular effects [16,23,25,74,75,76,77,78,79].

Figure 4

CBD inhibits NF-kB and IFN-β signaling. CBD prevents IκB degradation, reducing NF-kβ activation and translocation, which blocks the translation of several inflammatory proteins, including the NLRP-3 inflammasome priming and the consequent pro-inflammatory cytokine production. CBD also inhibits TBK-1 activation and IRF-3 phosphorylation and activation. Finally, as IRF-3 translocation to the nucleus is inhibited, the expression of IFN-β is reduced [4,90,91,92,93].