Special Issue "Cannabinoids"

Guest Editor
Prof. Dr. Rudolf Brenneisen
Department of Clinical Research/Phytopharmacology, Bioanalytics & Pharmacokinetics, University of Bern, Murtenstr. 35, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland
Website: http://www.phytopharm.dkf.unibe.ch/
E-Mail:
Interests: pharmacology and clinical studies of natural and synthetic drugs, mainly cannabinoids and opioids; development of pulmonal applications forms; heroin maintenance programs; development and validation of chromatographic-spectroscopic methods for pharmacological, toxicological and pharmaceutical applications; cannabis profiling (chemical fingerprinting); monitoring of drugs in body fluids; pharmacokinetic profiling and metabolism of drugs and drugs of abuse; ethnopharmacognosy and -pharmacology of medicinal plants

Guest Editor
Dr. Saoirse O'Sullivan
School of Graduate Entry, Medicine & Health, Derby City General Hospital, University of Nottingham, DE22 3DT, UK
E-Mail:
Interests: cannabinoid; artery; vasorelaxation; vascular function; adipose tissue; obesity; metabolic syndrome; gut permeability; nuclear receptor; PPARs

Dear Colleagues,

We invite authors to submit papers to Pharmaceuticals in the exciting field of Cannabinoid research. This special issue is to include original articles on basic or clinical reserach on the endocannabinoid system (including enocannabinoids and the enzymes involved in their synthesis and degradation), phytocannabinoid (such as THC, CBD, THCV) or cannabis preparations (such as Sativex) in any reserach area, but particularly investigations looking at novel compounds or novel sites of action. We also welcome review articles on complex and controversial areas in cannabinoid pharmacology.

Prof. Dr. Rudolf Brenneisen
Dr. Saoirse O'Sullivan
Guest Editor

Submission

All manuscripts should be submitted to pharmaceuticals@mdpi.org with a copy to the Guest Editor. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. Papers will be published continuously (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are refereed through a peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pharmaceuticals is an international peer-reviewed Open Access monthly journal published by MDPI.

• phytocannabinoids
• endocannabinoids
• cannabis-based medicines
• cannabinoid receptors
• nuclear receptors
• novel receptor sites of action
• orphan g-protein coupled receptors
• FAAH
• MAGL
• basic research
• clinical trials
• cardiovascular system
• respiratory system
• gastrointestinal
• adipose tissue
• metabolism
• reproduction
• bone growth
• central nervous sytem

Type of Paper: Review
Authors: Review on Clinical Studies with Cannabis and Cannabinoids 2005-2009
Authors: Arno Hazekamp and Franjo Grotenhermen; E-Mails: ahazekamp@rocketmail.com (A.H.); info@cannabis-med.org (F.G.)
Abstract: The use of cannabis as a medicine remains a constant topic of discussion. To date, a large number of controlled clinical trials have been done evaluating the therapeutic applications of cannabis and cannabis-based preparations. This review reports on the most recent clinical data available. A systematic search was performed in the scientific databases of Medline and PubMed, focused on clinical studies that were randomized, (double) blinded, and placebo-controlled. The period screened was from July 1, 2005 up to August 1, 2009. Clinical data from the period 1976 to July 2005 has been previously reviewed.

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Cannabinoids and Viral Infections
Author: Carol Shoshkes Reiss; E-Mail: cr2@nyu.edu
Abstract: Exogenous cannabinoids or receptor antagonists may influence many cellular and systemic host responses. The anti-inflammatory activity of cannabinoids may compromise host inflammatory responses to acute viral infections, but may be beneficial in persistent infections. In neurons, where innate antiviral/proresolution responses include the activation of NOS-1, inhibition of Ca²⁺ activity is seen with cannabinoids, increased viral replication and disease are the outcome. This review examines the effect(s) of cannabinoids and their antagonists in viral infections.

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Role of Cannabinoid Receptors in the Descending Modulation of Pain
Authors: Enza Palazzo, Livio Luongo, Vito de Novellis, Francesco Rossi and Sabatino Maione
Affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Pharmacological Division, The Second University of Naples, via Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Naples, Italy; E-Mail: enza.palazzo@unina2.it (E.P.)
Abstract: Endogenous antinociceptive descending pathway represents a circuitry of supraspinal central nervous system whose task is to counteract pain. It includes periaqueductal grey (PAG)-rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM)-dorsal horn (DH) axis, which is the best characterized pain modulatory system through which pain is endogenously inhibited. Thus, an alternative rational strategy for silencing pain is the activation of this anatomical substrate. Evidence for the involvement of cannabinoid receptors (CB) in the supraspinal modulation of pain comes from several studies in which intra-cerebral microinjections of cannabinoid ligands or positive modulators proved analgesic in different pain models whereas cannabinoid receptor antagonists or antisense nucleotides towards CB1 receptors have facilitated pain. Like opioids, cannabinoids produce centrally-mediated analgesia by activating a descending pathway which includes PAG, its projection to downstream RVM neurons, which in turn send inhibitory projections to the dorsal horns of the spinal cord. Indeed, several studies underline a supraspinal regulation of cannabinoids on γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate release which inhibits and enhances antinociceptive descending pathway, respectively. More specifically cannabinoid receptor activation expressed on presynaptic GABAergic terminals reduces the probability of neurotransmitter release thus dis-inhibiting PAG-RVM-dosal horn antinociceptive pathway. Its consequent outcome is behavioural analgesia, which is reproduced in several pain conditions, from acute to chronic pain models such as inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Altogether these findings suggest supraspinal cannabinoid receptors having broad applications, from pain control to its tightly related central nervous system diseases such as anxiety and depression.

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Therapeutic Potential of Non-Psychotropic Cannabinoids in Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Kazuhide Hayakawa et al.
Affiliation: Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, 8-19-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka, Japan; E-Mail: khayakawa322@yahoo.co.jp
Abstract: Cannabis contains the psychoactive component delta⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC), and non-psychoactive component cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol, and cannabigerol. It is well-known that Δ⁹-THC and other cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonists are neuroprotective during global and focal ischemic injury. Additionally, Δ⁹-THC also mediates psychological effects through the activation of the CB1 receptor in the central nervous system. In addition to the CB1 receptor agonists, cannabis also contains therapeutically active components which are CB1 receptor independent. Of the CB1 receptor-independent cannabis, the most important is CBD. In the past five years, an increasing number of publications have focused on the discovery of the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and neuroprotective effects. In particular, CBD exerts positive pharmacological effects in ischemic stroke and other chronic diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. The cerebroprotective action of CBD is CB1 receptor-independent, long-lasting, and CBD has greater anti-oxidant activity. Importantly, CBD use does not lead to tolerance. In this review, we will discuss the therapeutic possibility of CBD as a cerebroprotective agent, highlighting recent pharmacological advances, novel mechanisms, and therapeutic time window of CBD in ischemic stroke.

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Role of Cannabinoids in the Modulation of Inflammatory Process
Authors: Daniele Bani ¹ Guido Mannaioni ² Maria Beatrice Passani ² and Emanuela Masini ²
Affiliations: ¹ Department of Anatomy, Histology and Forensic Medicine, University of Florence, Italy
² Department of Preclinical and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Florence, Italy; E-Mail: emanuela.masini@unifi.it
Abstract: to be added

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Endocannabinoid Inactivation: A Continuing Debate
Authors: Hesham Khairy and Wael Houssen
Affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK; E-Mails: r01hak6@abdn.ac.uk (H.K.); w.houssen@abdn.ac.uk (W.H.)
Abstract: Investigations of the pathways involved in the metabolism of endocannabinoids such as anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) have grown exponentially in recent years. It is established that the activity of endocannabinoids decays by distinct processes that involve cellular uptake and degradation via oxidation or hydrolysis. However, there is a continuing debate about the mechanistic role of these processes. In this review, the different facets of this debate will be discussed in details.
Keywords: endocannabinoid; anandamide; ethanolamine; arachidonic acid

Type of Paper: Review
Authors: Sebastian Walther and Michael Halpern
Affiliation: University Hospital of Psychiatry, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3060 Bern, Switzerland; E-Mail: sebastian.walther@puk.unibe.ch
Abstract: Growing evidence suggests an involvement of the cannabinoid system in the neurobiology of dementia. In addition, several cannabinoids have been administered to treat various symptoms of dementia. We performed a pubmed search of all articles on dementia and cannabinoids published until February 2010. We will review laboratory studies and clinical trials as well as case reports on the topic. The article will mainly cover Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and Huntington's disease.

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Role of Cannabinoids in Cognitive Control: Focus on Schizophrenia
Author: Marco Bortolato
Affiliation: Department of Pharmacology & Pharmaceutical Science, University of Southern California, 1985 Zonal Avenue, PSC 527, Los Angeles, 90089 California, USA; E-Mail: bortolat@usc.edu
Abstract: The main psychoactive ingredient of Cannabis sativa, Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is known to produce complex effects on multiple cognitive domains, ranging from perceptual to mnemonic functions. Accordingly, recent clinical and preclinical studies indicate that the cannabinoid system plays a key role in the course and pathophysiology of psychotic disorders. However, the impact of cannabinoid ligands on schizophrenia appears highly variable, likely in relation to the implication of numerous factors, including different receptors and neurotransmitter systems. The aim of the present review is to provide a comprehensive presentation on the current state of knowledge of the involvement of cannabinoids in cognition and highlight the novel perspectives offered by this system in antipsychotic therapy.

Title: Endocannabinoids and Human Sperm Cells
Authors: G. Zolese, A. Ambrosini, E. Bertoli and R. Fiorini
Affiliation: Dept. of Biochemistry, Biology and Genetic Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy; E-Mail: r.fiorini@univpm.it (R.F.)
Abstract: N-acylethanolamides (endocannabinoids) are naturally occurring signaling lipids consisting of amides and esters of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.Usually they are present in a very small amount in many mammalian tissues and cells, including human reproductive tracts and fluids. Growing evidences indicate that endocannabinoids affect spermatozoa physiologic functions involved in fertilization. This review will concern the most recent data available.