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A TOKE A DAY KEEPS MEMORY LOSS AT BAY |
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Written by MMJP
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Friday, 21 November 2008 14:02 |
Small Doses of Marijuana Improve the Function of Aging Brains, Scientists Find
Turns out a few dances with Mary Jane can do wonders for an aging brain.
Yes, a daily toke in later-middle and old age can help slow memory loss, or the onset of diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis, a new study suggests.
It's a pre-emptive strike, one not effective at reversing previous memory loss. But aging boomers still shouldn't go overboard, researchers say. In tests on lab rats, all it took was the equivalent of one human puff.
"We are not trying to make anyone high," said Gary Wenk, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Ohio State University. "We are trying to tease out the positive aspects of this plant."
The benefit was found in a synthetic compound identical to tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive substance in marijuana, which researchers say activated areas of aged brains in rats affected by memory loss, and stimulated the formation of new brain cells.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 29 January 2009 22:18 |
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Cannabinoids Treating Highly Invasive Cancers |
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Written by MMJP
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Thursday, 23 October 2008 15:19 |
Inhibition of Cancer Cell Invasion by Cannabinoids via Increased Expression of Tissue Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinases-1 Robert Ramer, Burkhard Hinz Affiliation of authors: Institute of Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany Correspondence to: Burkhard Hinz, PhD, Institute of Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Rostock, Schillingallee 70, Rostock D-18057, Germany (e-mail:
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). Background: Cannabinoids, in addition to having palliative benefits in cancer therapy, have been associated with anticarcinogenic effects. Although the antiproliferative activities of cannabinoids have been intensively investigated, little is known about their effects on tumor invasion. Methods: Matrigel-coated and uncoated Boyden chambers were used to quantify invasiveness and migration, respectively, of human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells that had been treated with cannabinoids (the stable anandamide analog R(+)-methanandamide [MA] and the phytocannabinoid  9-tetrahydrocannabinol [THC]) in the presence or absence of antagonists of the CB1 or CB2 cannabinoid receptors or of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) or inhibitors of p38 or p42/44 mitogen–activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunoblotting were used to assess the influence of cannabinoids on the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and endogenous tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs). The role of TIMP-1 in the anti-invasive action of cannabinoids was analyzed by transfecting HeLa, human cervical carcinoma (C33A), or human lung carcinoma cells (A549) cells with siRNA targeting TIMP-1. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results: Without modifying migration, MA and THC caused a time- and concentration-dependent suppression of HeLa cell invasion through Matrigel that was accompanied by increased expression of TIMP-1. At the lowest concentrations tested, MA (0.1 µM) and THC (0.01 µM) led to a decrease in invasion (normalized to that observed with vehicle-treated cells) of 61.5% (95% CI = 38.7% to 84.3%, P < .001) and 68.1% (95% CI = 31.5% to 104.8%, P = .0039), respectively. The stimulation of TIMP-1 expression and suppression of cell invasion were reversed by pretreatment of cells with antagonists to CB1 or CB2 receptors, with inhibitors of MAPKs, or, in the case of MA, with an antagonist to TRPV1. Knockdown of cannabinoid-induced TIMP-1 expression by siRNA led to a reversal of the cannabinoid-elicited decrease in tumor cell invasiveness in HeLa, A549, and C33A cells. Conclusion: Increased expression of TIMP-1 mediates an anti-invasive effect of cannabinoids. Cannabinoids may therefore offer a therapeutic option in the treatment of highly invasive cancers. |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 29 January 2009 22:17 |
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Marijuana Ingredient Reduces Intraocular Pressure |
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Written by MMJP
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Thursday, 13 November 2008 16:52 |
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Science: THC decreases intraocular pressure and improves blood circulation in the eye IACM via BBSNews 2007-01-08 -- According to research at the University of Aachen a single oral dose of 7.5 mg THC, which was applied to eight healthy medical doctors in a self-experiment, reduced intraocular pressure (IOP) and increased blood circulation in the retina. Measurements were performed before and two hours after intake of THC. THC resulted in a significant medium reduction of IOP from 13.2 mm Hg to 11.8 mm Hg. The time for the passage of blood from arteries to the veins in the retina decreased significantly from 1.77 seconds on average to 1.57 seconds. Systemic blood pressure and heart rate were not significantly altered. Researchers concluded that "cannabinoids, already known for their ability to reduce IOP, may result in increased retinal hemodynamics. This may be beneficial in ocular circulatory disorders, including glaucoma." Source: Plange N, Arend KO, Kaup M, Doehmen B, Adams H, Hendricks S, Cordes A, Huth J, Sponsel WE, Remky A. Dronabinol and retinal hemodynamics in humans. Am J Ophthalmol 2007;143(1):173-4. |
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Written by MMJP
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Thursday, 18 September 2008 16:43 |
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Cannabis May Halt Progression Of Multiple Sclerosis, Study Says
September 18, 2008 - London, Unted Kingdom
“Cannabinoids may not only offer symptom control but may also slow … disease progression” London, United Kingdom: Cannabinoids possess neuroprotective properties and may modify the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a review published in the journal Current Pharmaceutical Design. Investigators at the London School of Medicine, Neuroscience Center reported that cannabinoids likely hold therapeutic value for MS patients beyond providing temporary symptomatic relief. “Recent clinical trials may indeed suggest that cannabis has some potential to relieve, pain, spasms and spasticity in MS,” authors wrote. “In addition, CB(1) and CB(2) cannabinoid receptor stimulation may also have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective potential. Therefore cannabinoids may not only offer symptom control but may also slow the neurodegenerative disease progression that ultimately leads to the accumulation of disability.” A recent expert opinion paper published by the US National Multiple Sclerosis Society concluded that cannabis possesses the potential to treat MS symptoms as well as moderate disease progression, but stopped short of recommending that patients use it therapeutically. Survey data indicates that an estimated one in four patients with MS use medicinal cannabis. |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 29 January 2009 22:20 |
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Charles Lynch is awaiting sentencing for his guilty convictions of distributing drugs to minors. Lynch donated medicine to the sick and dying as well as seriously ill children. 
