Potencial neuroprotetor de óleos a base de cannabis sativa em caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

Substances from the Cannabis sativa species, especially cannabidiol (CBD) and Delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), have attracted medical attention in recent years. THC is known for its psychoactive properties, whereas CBD is not a psychostimulant. These compounds have opposite pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions, where CBD acts as an antagonist or negative modulator of THC, through binding to CB1 and CB2 receptors. Thus, the actions of these two main cannabinoids modulate the Central Nervous System (CNS) involving development, synaptic plasticity, and response to endogenous and environmental damage, as a characteristic of many neurodegenerative diseases. Some of these diseases still have unknown etiology, but their dynamics are mediated by specific neurotransmitters that maintain systems in homeostatic imbalance, such as the GABAergic Nervous System (GNS) and the Cholinergic Nervous System (SNCol). The nematode C. elegans is an important experimental model, has this different neurotransmitter systems that coordinate its behavior: dopaminergic, cholinergic, serotoninergic, glutamatergic, and GABAergic. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the protective and/or curative potential of terpenoids found in C. sativa on the GNS and ChoNS of C. elegans. The effect of two C. sativa oils with variations in THC and CBD concentrations on the cholinergic system, lipid peroxidation, and behavior of C. elegans was evaluated. The compound was efficient in reducing the activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in N2 strains and in increasing the GMC101 strain, highlighting the CBD rich-oil. The TCH rich-oils influenced the evaluated biomarkers, both in the N2 strain and in the transgenic GMC101 and CL2122. Consequently, greater investments in scientific research are needed, in addition to breaking the taboo on the use of the C. sativa plant as an alternative for medicinal use, especially in neurodegenerative diseases, which have already shown positive initial results. Finally, based on the results obtained in the present work, there is great potential in the use of CBD and THC oils for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.