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Pharmaceuticals
Special Issues
Medicinal Potential of Cannabidiol and New Structural Analogs
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Medicinal Potential of Cannabidiol and New Structural Analogs

A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Medicinal Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 September 2025) | Viewed by 4599

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Patricia Fernandes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Pain and Inflammation, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Interests: pharmacology of pain; inflammation; cancer; natural products
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical found in the Cannabis sativa plant. This plant, which contains more than 80 chemicals called cannabinoids, is also called marijuana.

CBD presents a diverse array of effects through interaction with receptors CB1, CB2, and TRPV1

Due to this wide range of effects, CBD plays an essential role in ameliorating a range of diseases.

Recent studies demonstrated effects in various systems, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders, with a particular emphasis on cancers and autoimmune disorders.

We will accept papers that are literature reviews and original papers presenting in silico, in vitro, or in vivo research, but papers that fall outside these criteria will also be considered.

Prof. Dr. Patricia Fernandes
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind 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.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cancer
  • inflammation
  • pain
  • analgesia
  • cannabidiol
  • parkinson disease
  • huntington disease
  • alzheimer disease

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 2219 KB  
Article
Novel Multifunctional Cannabidiol-Based Analogues with In Silico, In Vitro, and In Vivo Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Effect
by Graziella dos Reis Rosa Franco, Vanessa Silva Gontijo, Flávia Pereira Dias Viegas, Matheus de Freitas Silva, Cindy Juliet Cristancho Ortiz, Caio Miranda Damásio, Isabella Marie Fernandes Silva, Thâmara Gaspar Campos, Erik Vinicius de Sousa Reis, Felipe Alves Clarindo, Thaís de Fátima Silva Moraes, Matheus Müller Pereira da Silva, Patrícia Ribeiro de Carvalho França, Isabella Alvim Guedes, Laurent Emmanuel Dardenne, Jordana Grazziela Alves Coelho dos Reis, Patrícia Dias Fernandes and Claudio Viegas, Jr.
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(10), 1565; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18101565 - 16 Oct 2025
Viewed by 886
Abstract
Background/Objectives: COVID-19 was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide. This study aimed to identify substances with in vitro and in vivo effects against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Methods: Compounds PQM-243 and PQM-249, two terpene-N-acyl-aryl-hydrazone analogues, were evaluated in vitro against [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: COVID-19 was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide. This study aimed to identify substances with in vitro and in vivo effects against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Methods: Compounds PQM-243 and PQM-249, two terpene-N-acyl-aryl-hydrazone analogues, were evaluated in vitro against SARS-CoV-2 to a antiviral activity and inhibitory effect against angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). A possible inhibitory effect affecting the interaction between the receptor-binding domain (RBD) protein and/or ACE2 was evaluated using LUMMIT kit. A SARS-CoV-2-induced pulmonary pneumonia model was developed to evaluate the effects of the compounds after 3 days of treatment. Results: Compounds PQM-243 and PQM-249 exhibited IC50 values of 0.0648 ± 0.041 µM and 0.2860 ± 0.057 µM against SARS-CoV-2 with a selective index of >1543.21 and 349.65, respectively, and IC50 values of 12.1 nM and 13.3 nM, respectively, against ACE2. All concentrations used significantly reduced interactions between ACE2 and RBD. Computational studies suggest that these new compounds are potent direct anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents, capable of reducing both virus viability and its invasive ability in the host cells by reducing the interaction between RBD and ACE2. It was also demonstrated that even when administered by the oral route, both compounds reduced SARS-CoV-2-induced lung inflammation. Our data suggests that both compounds can act as potent direct anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents, reducing both viral viability and host cell entry. In addition, they exhibited a significant multi-target-directed pharmacological profile, also reducing SARS-CoV-2-induced lung inflammation when administered orally. Conclusions: Overall, these findings support further investigation of PQM-243 and PQM-249 as promising antiviral and anti-inflammatory multi-target prototypes for the development of innovative drug candidates targeting SARS-CoV-2 and other virus-related respiratory diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Potential of Cannabidiol and New Structural Analogs)
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Review

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30 pages, 1177 KB  
Review
Recent Preclinical Evidence on Phytocannabinoids in Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Focus on Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease
by Nicoleta-Mirela Blebea, Ciprian Pușcașu, Gabriel Hancu, Alina Mihaela Stăniguț and Cornel Chiriță
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(6), 890; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18060890 - 13 Jun 2025
Viewed by 3259
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a vital biological network essential for maintaining homeostasis and supporting various physiological functions. It comprises cannabinoid receptors, endogenous lipid-based ligands, known as endocannabinoids, as well as metabolic enzymes and associated proteins responsible for regulating their levels within tissues. [...] Read more.
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a vital biological network essential for maintaining homeostasis and supporting various physiological functions. It comprises cannabinoid receptors, endogenous lipid-based ligands, known as endocannabinoids, as well as metabolic enzymes and associated proteins responsible for regulating their levels within tissues. The ECS plays a central role in modulating processes involving the central nervous system (CNS). Recent studies have highlighted its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. The therapeutic potential of cannabinoids, particularly phytocannabinoids derived from plants, has attracted significant attention in medical and pharmaceutical research. This interest has grown in parallel with the increasing availability of cannabinoid-based food supplements on the pharmaceutical market. Given the complexity of the ECS and its broad range of interactions, the discovery of this system has spurred extensive investigations into the use of cannabinoids for various health conditions. In this review, we examine recent preclinical evidence supporting the use of phytocannabinoids in the context of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Targeting the ECS through phytocannabinoid-based pharmacological modulation offers a promising therapeutic strategy for these neurological disorders. Among these compounds, cannabidiol has emerged as a key focus of research due to its multifaceted effects and favorable safety profile. Nonetheless, continued investigation is necessary to clarify its mechanisms of action, and to develop effective, evidence-based clinical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Potential of Cannabidiol and New Structural Analogs)
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