Abstract
For many years, multiple sclerosis (MS) patients have been self-medicating with illegal street cannabis to alleviate symptoms associated with MS. Data from animal models of MS and clinical studies have supported the anecdotal data that cannabis can improve symptoms such as limb spasticity, which are commonly associated with progressive MS, by the modulation of excessive neuronal signalling. This has lead to cannabis-based medicines being approved for the treatment of pain and spasticity in MS for the first time. Experimental studies into the biology of the endocannabinoid system have revealed that cannabinoids have activity, not only in symptom relief but also potentially in neuroprotective strategies which may slow disease progression and thus delay the onset of symptoms such as spasticity. This review appraises the current knowledge of cannabinoid biology particularly as it pertains to MS and outlines potential future therapeutic strategies for the treatment of disease progression in MS.
Keywords: Cannabis, endocannabinoid, multiple sclerosis, spasticity, experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, neuroprotection.
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets
Title:Potential Control of Multiple Sclerosis by Cannabis and the Endocannabinoid System
Volume: 11 Issue: 5
Author(s): Gareth Pryce and David Baker
Affiliation:
Keywords: Cannabis, endocannabinoid, multiple sclerosis, spasticity, experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, neuroprotection.
Abstract: For many years, multiple sclerosis (MS) patients have been self-medicating with illegal street cannabis to alleviate symptoms associated with MS. Data from animal models of MS and clinical studies have supported the anecdotal data that cannabis can improve symptoms such as limb spasticity, which are commonly associated with progressive MS, by the modulation of excessive neuronal signalling. This has lead to cannabis-based medicines being approved for the treatment of pain and spasticity in MS for the first time. Experimental studies into the biology of the endocannabinoid system have revealed that cannabinoids have activity, not only in symptom relief but also potentially in neuroprotective strategies which may slow disease progression and thus delay the onset of symptoms such as spasticity. This review appraises the current knowledge of cannabinoid biology particularly as it pertains to MS and outlines potential future therapeutic strategies for the treatment of disease progression in MS.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Pryce Gareth and Baker David, Potential Control of Multiple Sclerosis by Cannabis and the Endocannabinoid System, CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets 2012; 11 (5) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152712801661310
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152712801661310 |
Print ISSN 1871-5273 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1996-3181 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
- Molecular Mechanism of Inhibition of Polysialyltransferase Domain (PSTD) by Heparin
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Advances in Research of Schiff-Base Metal Complexes as Potent Antioxidants
Current Medicinal Chemistry Current Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease and Plants Derived Neuroprotective Phytoconstituents: A Comprehensive Review
Current Psychopharmacology The Synergistic Effects of DNA-Targeted Chemotherapeutics and Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors As Therapeutic Strategies for Cancer Treatment
Current Medicinal Chemistry Targeting Cell Death in Tumors by Activating Caspases
Current Cancer Drug Targets Tumor-Derived Extracellular Fragments of Receptor Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases (RPTPs) as Cancer Molecular Diagnostic Tools
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Signal Transduction Pathways and Transcriptional Mechanisms as Targets for Prevention of Emergence of Multidrug Resistance in Human Cancer Cells
Current Drug Targets L-carnitine: Searching for New Therapeutic Strategy for Sepsis Management
Current Medicinal Chemistry Circulating Levels of Soluble Angiogenic Factors in Multiple Myeloma: Correlation with Parameters of Disease Activity and Prognosis
Current Angiogenesis (Discontinued) Targeting the p53 Pathway of Apoptosis
Current Pharmaceutical Design Gender Specific Drug Metabolism of PF-02341066 in Rats — Role of Sulfoconjugation
Current Drug Metabolism High-throughput Screening Identifies Small Molecule Inhibitors of Molecular Chaperones
Current Pharmaceutical Design TEM8 Targeted Cancer Therapy
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Carbon Nano Tubes: Novel Drug Delivery System in Amelioration of Alzheimer’s Disease
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening An Association of Virus Infection with Type 2 Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Bioinformatics Approach to BDNF and BDNF-Related Disorders
Current Neuropharmacology Nano-Neurotherapeutics (NNTs): An Emergent and Multifaceted Tool for CNS Disorders
Current Drug Metabolism Topotecan and Irinotecan in the Treatment of Pediatric Solid Tumors
Current Pediatric Reviews Combating P-glycoprotein-Mediated Multidrug Resistance Using Therapeutic Nanoparticles
Current Pharmaceutical Design Heat Shock Proteins: Therapeutic Drug Targets for Chronic Neurodegeneration?
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology