Cannabis sativa and the endogenous cannabinoid system: therapeutic potential for appetite regulation

Farrimond, J. A., Mercier, M. S., Whalley, B. J. and Williams, C. M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4452-671X (2011) Cannabis sativa and the endogenous cannabinoid system: therapeutic potential for appetite regulation. Phytotherapy Research, 25 (2). pp. 170-188. ISSN 0951-418X doi: 10.1002/ptr.3375

Abstract/Summary

The herb Cannabis sativa (C. sativa) has been used in China and on the Indian subcontinent for thousands of years as a medicine. However, since it was brought to the UK and then the rest of the western world in the late 19th century, its use has been a source of controversy. Indeed, its psychotropic side effects are well reported but only relatively recently has scientific endeavour begun to find valuable uses for either the whole plant or its individual components. Here, we discuss evidence describing the endocannabinoid system, its endogenous and exogenous ligands and their varied effects on feeding cycles and meal patterns. Furthermore we also critically consider the mounting evidence which suggests non‐tetrahydrocannabinol phytocannabinoids play a vital role in C. sativa‐induced feeding pattern changes. Indeed, given the wide range of phytocannabinoids present in C. sativa and their equally wide range of intra‐, inter‐ and extra‐cellular mechanisms of action, we demonstrate that non‐Δ9tetrahydrocannabinol phytocannabinoids retain an important and, as yet, untapped clinical potential.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/id/eprint/19932
Identification Number/DOI	10.1002/ptr.3375
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > School of Pharmacy > Division of Pharmacology Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Neuroscience Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Department of Psychology Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Nutrition and Health
Uncontrolled Keywords	feeding; appetite; phytocannabinoid; endocannabinoid; Δ9tetrahydrocannabinol
Publisher	John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Download/View statistics	View download statistics for this item