Research Article, Cell Biol Res Ther Vol: 3 Issue: 1
Cannabis resin extract in Parkinson's disease: Behavioral, Neurochemical, and Histological Evaluation
| Shaimaa A. ElShebiney1*, Ezzeddein S. El-Denshary2, Omar M.E. Abdel-Salam1, Neveen A. Salem1, Zakaria A. El-Khyat3, Nermeen El Shaffie4 and Dalaal M. Abdallah2 | |
| 1Toxicology and Narcotics Department, National Research Center (NRC), Cairo, Egypt | |
| 2Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt | |
| 3Medical Biochemistry Department, NRC, Cairo, Egypt | |
| 4Clinical Pathology Department, NRC, Cairo, Egypt | |
| Corresponding author : Shaimaa A. ElShebiney Toxicology and Narcotics Department, National Research Center (NRC), Cairo, Egypt Tel: +202-33371362; Fax: +202-33370931 E-mail: shaimaaelshebiney@gmail.com |
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| Received: May 13, 2014 Accepted: July 20, 2014 Published: July 30, 2014 | |
| Citation: ElShebiney SA, El-Denshary ES, Abdel-Salam OME, Salem NA, El-Khyat ZA (2014) Cannabis Resin Extract in Parkinson’s Disease: Behavioral, Neurochemical, and Histological Evaluation. Cell Biol: Res Ther 3:1. doi:10.4172/2324-9293.1000112 |
Abstract
Cannabis sativa (Family Cannabaceae, L.) has been used in China and India for thousands of years as a medicine. The main active constituents of cannabis are Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabinol (CBN) and cannabidiol (CBD). Currently, THC and CBD are being carefully used in conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, cancer pain, and chemotherapy associated emesis. The cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R) is considered responsible for most THC effects involving sedation, analgesia, hypothermia, catalepsy, and euphoria . CB1Rs are abundantly distributed in the basal ganglia , where they are co-localized with both dopamine (D)1 and 2 receptors on striatonigral dynorphin/substance P and striatopallidal enkephalinergic neuron. In striatum, CB1R is highly expressed in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic and glutamatergic presynaptic terminals, where it mediates retrograde endocannabinoid signalling . The inhibition of GABA and glutamate systems in basal ganglia, in turn suppresses D1-mediated effects to exert an anti-dyskinetic action. Additionally, the basal ganglia expresses the cannabinoid 2 receptor (CB2R), particularly in glial cells entailing a role for CB2R-agonists in reducing microglia toxic effects and inflammatory reactions.
