Phytocannabinoids: Useful Drugs for the Treatment of Obesity? Special Focus on Cannabidiol

Overview

Journal Front Endocrinol (Lausanne)

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2020 Mar 21

PMID 32194509

Citations 31

Authors

Patrycja Bielawiec

Ewa Harasim-Symbor

Adrian Chabowski

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Currently, an increasing number of diseases related to insulin resistance and obesity is an alarming problem worldwide. It is well-known that the above states can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. An excessive amount of triacylglycerols (TAGs) in a diet also evokes adipocyte hyperplasia and subsequent accumulation of lipids in peripheral organs (liver, cardiac muscle). Therefore, new therapeutic methods are constantly sought for the prevention, treatment and alleviation of symptoms of the above mentioned diseases. Currently, much attention is paid to derivatives-phytocannabinoids, which interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) constituents. Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the most abundant compounds of plants and their therapeutic application has been suggested. CBD is considered as a potential therapeutic agent due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, neuroprotective, and potential anti-obesity properties. Therefore, in this review, we especially highlight pharmacological properties of CBD as well as its impact on obesity in different tissues.

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