This week’s newsletter covers the latest CBD and plant medicine research, including CBD’s promising anti-cancer and acne-fighting properties, transdermal delivery for acute pain, adolescent CBD use trends, anti-obesity potential, and fascinating new findings on chimpanzees’ use of medicinal plants.
Research Round-Up
Study: Nearly 3% of Healthy Adolescents use Commercial CBD Products (UC San Diego)
New research from the University of California, San Diego, sheds light on the increasing use of commercial CBD products among adolescents. This pioneering study, published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, explores the prevalence, predictors, and implications of CBD use in youth, revealing both promising trends and significant concerns about product safety and efficacy.
Unlocking CBD’s anti-obesity potential (TecScience)
A recent study from the Institute for Obesity Research explores the potential of cannabidiol (CBD) as a novel treatment for obesity. Focusing on CBD’s interaction with adipose tissue, the research examines its impact on gene expression, fat management, and inflammation reduction. Early findings suggest that CBD may enhance the function of adipose cells, offering a promising new approach to combating obesity by promoting more effective fat utilization.
Chimps use more plant medicines with antibacterial and antibiotic properties than any other animal (Science)
New research reveals intriguing findings about self-medication in chimpanzees, adding 17 new samples from 13 plant species to their known pharmacopoeia. Observers followed two chimp communities in Uganda, documenting their use of specific plants to treat ailments such as bacterial infections and inflammation. This study highlights the complex and deliberate use of medicinal plants by chimps, supporting the idea that they, like humans, turn to nature for healing.
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CBD’s efficacy as an anti-cancer agent (PubMed)
Cannabinoids, particularly Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), are gaining renewed interest for their anti-cancer properties, including tumor inhibition and anti-inflammatory effects. This review explores CBD’s non-psychoactive anti-cancer potential, focusing on its cellular and molecular mechanisms to optimize pre-clinical therapies.
Transdermal delivery of CBD for acute pain management (PubMed)
Nanotechnology is revolutionizing drug delivery, enhancing the therapeutic potential of bioactive compounds like cannabidiol (CBD). This review explores CBD’s role in managing acute inflammatory pain, focusing on nanosystems and excipients that improve its bioavailability, stability, and controlled release for transdermal application.
CBD as a treatment for acne and acne scars (PubMed)
Cannabidiol (CBD) shows promise for treating acne due to its ability to reduce inflammation and control oil production. Recent experiments found that CBD decreases the viability of acne-causing cells, reduces inflammation, and inhibits excess oil production, making it a potential new treatment for acne.
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