Cannabinoids May Have Anti-Cancer Effects

Magazine

A new study published in Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology suggests that Cannabinol (CBN) may hold promise in the fight against cancer. 

According to the researchers, CBN demonstrated anti-cancer activity in a series of different laboratory experiments. CBN is a minor compound found in the cannabis plant and is one of the breakdown products of THC. 

Compared to THC, CBN has a lower affinity for CB1 receptors which are abundant in the brain and Central Nervous System, and a higher affinity for CB2 receptors, which are more widespread throughout the body and are found on cells of the immune system.

The authors dissolved CBN in a solution of methanol and then applied the solution to human cancer cell linings in glass Petri dishes (in-vitro). The cancer cell linings tested included brain, liver, and breast cancer. The study authors report that the anticancer properties of cannabinoids rely on their ability to alter chemical signaling by binding with cannabinoid receptors.

CannaBuff spoke with Jeff Lombardo, a cannabinoid expert and board-certified oncology pharmacist. 

“Cannabinoids can be helpful in many areas around supportive care, alone or synergistically with conventional FDA-approved agents. It will be interesting to see if these in vitro findings can be extrapolated to an in vivo model in a randomized control trial. ” 

-Jeff Lombardo, PharmD, BCOP

While these studies only provided preliminary evidence for these effects, they do warrant more research into the anticancer properties of CBN.