Abstract
The cannabinoid system is represented by two principal receptor subtypes, termed CB1 and CB2, along with several endogenous ligands. In the central nervous system it is involved in several processes. CB1 receptors are mainly expressed by neurons and their activation is primarily implicated in psychotropic and motor effects of cannabinoids. CB2 receptors are expressed by glial cells and are thought to participate in regulation of neuroimmune reactions. This review aims to highlight several reported properties of cannabinoids that could be used to inhibit the adverse neuroinflammatory processes contributing to Parkinson's disease and possibly other neurodegenerative disorders. These include anti-oxidant properties of phytocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids as well as hypothermic and antipyretic effects. However, cannabinoids may also trigger signaling cascades leading to impaired mitochondrial enzyme activity, reduced mitochondrial biogenesis, and increased oxidative stress, all of which could contribute to neurotoxicity. Therefore, further pharmacological studies are needed to allow rational design of new cannabinoid-based drugs lacking detrimental in vivo effects.
Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, fever, marijuana, microglia, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), thermoregulation, cannabinoids, Parkinson's disease, anti-oxidant
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Therapeutic Potential of Cannabinoids in the Treatment of Neuroinflammation Associated with Parkinsons Disease
Volume: 11 Issue: 7
Author(s): J. P. Little, E. B. Villanueva and A. Klegeris
Affiliation:
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC, V1V 1V7, Canada.,Canada
Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, fever, marijuana, microglia, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), thermoregulation, cannabinoids, Parkinson's disease, anti-oxidant
Abstract: The cannabinoid system is represented by two principal receptor subtypes, termed CB1 and CB2, along with several endogenous ligands. In the central nervous system it is involved in several processes. CB1 receptors are mainly expressed by neurons and their activation is primarily implicated in psychotropic and motor effects of cannabinoids. CB2 receptors are expressed by glial cells and are thought to participate in regulation of neuroimmune reactions. This review aims to highlight several reported properties of cannabinoids that could be used to inhibit the adverse neuroinflammatory processes contributing to Parkinson's disease and possibly other neurodegenerative disorders. These include anti-oxidant properties of phytocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids as well as hypothermic and antipyretic effects. However, cannabinoids may also trigger signaling cascades leading to impaired mitochondrial enzyme activity, reduced mitochondrial biogenesis, and increased oxidative stress, all of which could contribute to neurotoxicity. Therefore, further pharmacological studies are needed to allow rational design of new cannabinoid-based drugs lacking detrimental in vivo effects.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
P. Little J., B. Villanueva E. and Klegeris A., Therapeutic Potential of Cannabinoids in the Treatment of Neuroinflammation Associated with Parkinsons Disease, Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry 2011; 11(7) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138955711795906905
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138955711795906905 |
Print ISSN 1389-5575 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5607 |

- Author Guidelines
- Editorial Policies
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility Of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Reviewer Guidelines
- Guest Editor Guidelines
- Board Recruitment Workflow
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Announcements
- Forthcoming Thematic Issues
Related Articles
-
The Interaction Between Gender and Diabetes Mellitus in the Coronary Heart Disease Risk
Current Pharmaceutical Design Editorial (Thematic Issue: Modifying Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Current Opinion and Future Trends)
Current Pharmaceutical Design Monitoring Cell Therapy Using Iron Oxide MR Contrast Agents
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Recent Patents on Polymeric Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering
Recent Patents on Biomedical Engineering (Discontinued) High-output Cardiac Failure: A Forgotten Phenotype in Clinical Practice
Current Cardiology Reviews Editorial [Hot topic: Crucial Role of Redox Signaling in the Regulation of Heart Health (Guest Editor: Dipak K. Das)]
Current Cardiology Reviews Biochemical and Docking Analysis of Substrate Interactions with Polyisoprenylated Methylated Protein Methyl Esterase
Current Cancer Drug Targets Chemistry and Biology of Gluten Proteins
Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Under Re-organization) A Review of Sirt1 and Sirt1 Modulators in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery Thrombolytic Treatment of Cardiac Myxoma-Induced Ischemic Stroke: A Review
Current Drug Safety Pulmonary Hypertension and Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Chronic Lung Diseases: New Pathobiologic Concepts
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Dimerization and Ion Binding Properties of S100P Protein
Protein & Peptide Letters Tetracyclic Triterpenoids in Herbal Medicines and their Activities in Diabetes and its Complications
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Refractory Angina Pectoris: Lessons from the Past and Current Perspectives
Current Pharmaceutical Design 10 Years of SELDI: What Have we Learnt?
Current Proteomics Natural Products as Anti-Cancerous Therapeutic Molecules Targeted towards Topoisomerases
Current Protein & Peptide Science Exploring the Role of Gene Therapy for Neurological Disorders
Current Gene Therapy Targets and Patented Drugs for Chemotherapy of Chagas Disease in the Last 15 Years-Period
Recent Patents on Anti-Infective Drug Discovery The Emerging Role of Coenzyme Q-10 in Aging, Neurodegeneration, Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer and Diabetes Mellitus
Current Neurovascular Research Targeting Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress Through Lipoic Acid Synthase: A Novel Strategy to Manage Diabetic Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry