Accessibility navigation


Medicinal cannabis: is delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol necessary for all its effects?

Wilkinson, J.D., Whalley, B. J., Baker, D., Pryce, G., Constanti, A., Gibbons, S. and Williamson, E. M. (2003) Medicinal cannabis: is delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol necessary for all its effects? Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 55 (12). pp. 1687-1694. ISSN 0022-3573

Full text not archived in this repository.

It is advisable to refer to the publisher's version if you intend to cite from this work. See Guidance on citing.

To link to this item DOI: 10.1211/0022357022304

Abstract/Summary

Cannabis is under clinical investigation to assess its potential for medicinal use, but the question arises as to whether there is any advantage in using cannabis extracts compared with isolated Delta9-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta9THC), the major psychoactive component. We have compared the effect of a standardized cannabis extract (SCE) with pure Delta9THC, at matched concentrations of Delta9THC, and also with a Delta9THC-free extract (Delta9THC-free SCE), using two cannabinoid-sensitive models, a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS), and an in-vitro rat brain slice model of epilepsy. Whilst SCE inhibited spasticity in the mouse model of MS to a comparable level, it caused a more rapid onset of muscle relaxation, and a reduction in the time to maximum effect compared with Delta9THC alone. The Delta9THC-free extract or cannabidiol (CBD) caused no inhibition of spasticity. However, in the in-vitro epilepsy model, in which sustained epileptiform seizures were induced by the muscarinic receptor agonist oxotremorine-M in immature rat piriform cortical brain slices, SCE was a more potent and again more rapidly-acting anticonvulsant than isolated Delta9THC, but in this model, the Delta9THC-free extract also exhibited anticonvulsant activity. Cannabidiol did not inhibit seizures, nor did it modulate the activity of Delta9THC in this model. Therefore, as far as some actions of cannabis were concerned (e.g. antispasticity), Delta9THC was the active constituent, which might be modified by the presence of other components. However, for other effects (e.g. anticonvulsant properties) Delta9THC, although active, might not be necessary for the observed effect. Above all, these results demonstrated that not all of the therapeutic actions of cannabis herb might be due to the Delta9THC content

Item Type:Article
Refereed:Yes
Divisions:Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > School of Pharmacy > Division of Pharmacology
ID Code:1730
Uncontrolled Keywords:Animals Anticonvulsants Brain Cannabis Chromatography,High Pressure Liquid Disease Models,Animal drug effects drug therapy Epilepsy In Vitro isolation & purification Membrane Potentials Mice Multiple Sclerosis Muscle Relaxation Phytotherapy Plant Preparations Rats Sclerosis Seizures Support,Non-U.S.Gov't Support,U.S.Gov't,P.H.S. Tetrahydrocannabinol therapeutic use Time
Additional Information:DA - 20040123 NOT IN FILE PM:14738597
Publisher:Royal Pharmaceutical Society

University Staff: Request a correction | Centaur Editors: Update this record

Page navigation