China 
Africa 
Explore chapters and articles related to this topic
Scientific Rationale for the Use of Single Herb Remedies in Ayurveda
Published in D. Suresh Kumar, Ayurveda in the New Millennium, 2020
S. Ajayan, R. Ajith Kumar, Nirmal Narayanan
Guineensine is a dietary N-isobutylamide present in P. longum and shown to inhibit cellular endocannabinoid uptake. Considering the role of endocannabinoids in inflammation and pain reduction, Reynoso-Moreno et al. (2017) evaluated guineensine in mouse models of acute and inflammatory pain and endotoxemia. Significant dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effects like inhibition of inflammatory pain, inhibition of edema formation and acute analgesia were observed. Moreover, guineensine inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokine production in endotoxemia. Both hypothermia and analgesia were blocked by the CB1 receptor inverse agonist rimonabant, but the pronounced hypolocomotion was CB1 receptor (Cannabinoid receptor type 1)-independent. A screening of 45 CNS-related receptors, ion channels and transporters revealed apparent interactions of guineensine with the dopamine transporter DAT, 5HT2A and sigma receptors. The potent pharmacological effects of guineensine might relate to the reported anti-inflammatory effects of P. longum.
Role of Natural Agents in the Management of Diabetes
Published in Rohit Dutt, Anil K. Sharma, Raj K. Keservani, Vandana Garg, Promising Drug Molecules of Natural Origin, 2020
Monika Elżbieta Jach, Anna Serefko
Other potential mechanisms of the antidiabetic effects of natural substances may involve inhibition of glucose absorption in the gut, increased glucose uptake and upregulation of glucose transport, alteration of glycogen metabolism, activation of nuclear receptors, insulin-mimetic, and -tropic effects, increased adiponectin release, increase in D-chiro-inositol, incretin mimetics and incretin enhancers, the action of endogenous opioids on glucose homeostasis, and antioxidation. Several herb substances such as antagonists of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1), inhibitors of DP-4, and GLP-1analogs could work via these mechanisms (El-Abhar and Schaalam, 2014).
Cannabis
Published in Ilana B. Crome, Richard Williams, Roger Bloor, Xenofon Sgouros, Substance Misuse and Young People, 2019
It was not until the end of the twentieth century that the specific mechanism of action of Δ9-THC was studied at the neuronal level. It was confirmed that Δ9-THC affects the brain mainly by binding to a specific cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) that is expressed at high levels in many central nervous system regions, but also to a lesser degree in the peripheral nervous system and spine and other organs (Elphick, and Egertova, 2001; Wilson and Nicoll, 2002; Pagotto et al., 2006). The effects of two endocannabinoid neurotransmitter groups, anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) (Devane et al, 1992; Stella et al., 1997) are also mediated primarily by CB1 receptors. Anandamide has been shown to impair working memory in rats (Mallet, 1996) and is important in the implantation of early stage embryos into the uterus in blastocyst form (Piomelli, 2004). It also plays a role in regulating feeding behaviour and the neural generation of motivation and pleasure (Mahler et al., 2007). 2-AG is the principal endogenous ligand for the CB2 receptors, mainly found in the peripheral tissues of the immune system that primarily mediate cytokine release (Munro et al., 1993; Cabral and Griffin-Thomas, 2009; Basu et al., 2011). CB2 receptors are also found throughout the gastrointestinal system where they modulate intestinal inflammatory response (Izzo, 2004; Wright et al., 2008).
UK medical cannabis registry: assessment of clinical outcomes in patients with headache disorders
Published in Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 2023
Martha Nicholas, Simon Erridge, Lara Bapir, Manaswini Pillai, Nishaanth Dalavaye, Carl Holvey, Ross Coomber, James J Rucker, Mark W Weatherall, Mikael H Sodergren
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) influences a variety of physiological processes including pain signaling pathways and has been identified as a target for novel therapeutics for primary headache disorders [18–20]. The main receptors of the ECS are cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1), a G-protein coupled receptor principally located in the brainstem, prefrontal cortex, cingulate cortex and amygdala, and cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2), a G-protein coupled receptor principally located in peripheral immune cells [20]. Anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) are two key endocannabinoids that act as retrograde or local neurotransmitters through interactions with CB receptors [21]. Anandamide is a CB1 partial agonist and is degraded by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), whilst 2-AG is a CB1 and CB2 full agonist and is degraded by monoacylglycerol lipase [18]. The binding of these endocannabinoids regulates γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate release in nociceptive pathways [22]. Translational research findings suggest that modulation of the ECS may affect clinical outcomes in headache disorders [23–25].
Naturally Occurring Cannabinoids and their Role in Modulation of Cardiovascular Health
Published in Journal of Dietary Supplements, 2020
Elnaz Karimian Azari, Aileen Kerrigan, Annalouise O’Connor
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is involved in regulating and balancing various physiological actions in the body. The ECS is comprised of (1) endocannabinoids (eCBs), mainly arachidonoyl ethanolamide or anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), (2) their biosynthetic and metabolic enzymes including fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), and (3) a widespread network of cannabinoid receptors, such as cannabinoid receptor type 1 and type 2 (CB1 and CB2) (Di Marzo et al. 2004). Alterations in components of ECS signaling have been associated with various conditions. For example, an underactive ECS is seen in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and migraine, whereas an overactive ECS is associated with metabolic disorders, obesity and CVD (Russo 2016b). Under normal conditions, modulation of the ECS has minor consequences on cardiovascular health; however, upregulation of endocannabinoid signaling and cannabinoid receptor expression has been observed in patients with coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis (Alfulaij et al. 2018; Fulmer and Thewke 2018). Accumulating evidence has shown that targeting the ECS may be beneficial for arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, myocardial infraction and chronic heart failure (Alfulaij et al. 2018; Martin Gimenez et al. 2018). In this review, we will first focus on the known role of the ECS in regulating the cardiovascular system, and then discuss the cardiotherapeutic potential of non-psychoactive naturally occurring modulators of the ECS including phytocannabinoids, terpenes, and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA).
Evaluation of COMT (rs4680), CNR2 (rs2501432), CNR2 (rs2229579), UCP2 (rs659366), and IL-17 (rs763780) gene variants in synthetic cannabinoid use disorder patients
Published in Journal of Addictive Diseases, 2020
Sacide Pehlivan, Hasan Mervan Aytac, Selin Kurnaz, Mustafa Pehlivan, Pinar Cetinay Aydin
Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is an enzyme found in the central nervous system that inactivates dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. A variation in the COMT gene exchanging valine to the methionine amino acid at position 108/158 results in two common enzyme variants: Val and Met. While the Met allele of COMT is associated with low enzymatic activity, the Val allele is associated with increased enzymatic activity.5 COMT (rs4680) variants may affect COMT activity in the brain, altering dopamine neurotransmission known to play a prominent role in reward and addiction.6 Cannabinoid receptors that bind to both exogenous and endogenous cannabinoids are seven-transmembrane domain G-protein-coupled receptors. The cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB1) is encoded by the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CNR1) gene, while the cannabinoid receptor-2 (CB2) is encoded by the cannabinoid receptor type 2 gene (CNR2), which has been actively investigated for its role in osteoporosis, inflammation, leukemia, several types of cancer, and addiction.7