TY - JOUR
T1 - Emerging evidence for the antidepressant effect of cannabidiol and the underlying molecular mechanisms
AU - Silote, Gabriela Pandini
AU - Sartim, Ariandra
AU - Sales, Amanda
AU - Eskelund, Amanda
AU - Guimarães, F S
AU - Wegener, Gregers
AU - Joca, Samia
PY - 2019/7
Y1 - 2019/7
N2 - Significant limitations with the currently available antidepressant treatment strategies have inspired research on finding new and more efficient drugs to treat depression. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychotomimetic component of Cannabis sativa, and emerges in this regard as a promising compound. In 2010, we were the first laboratory to demonstrate that CBD is effective in animal models of predictive of antidepressant effect, a finding now confirmed by several other groups. Recent evidence suggests that CBD promotes both a rapid and a sustained antidepressant effect in animal models. CBD has a complex pharmacology, with the ability to interact with multiple neurotransmitter systems involved in depression, including the serotonergic, glutamatergic, and endocannabinoid systems. Moreover, CBD induces cellular and molecular changes in brain regions related to depression neurobiology, such as increased Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) levels and synaptogenesis in the medial prefrontal cortex, as well as it increases neurogenesis in the hippocampus. This review presents a comprehensive critical overview of the current literature related to the antidepressant effects of CBD, with focus at the possible mechanisms. Finally, challenges and perspectives for future research are discussed.
AB - Significant limitations with the currently available antidepressant treatment strategies have inspired research on finding new and more efficient drugs to treat depression. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychotomimetic component of Cannabis sativa, and emerges in this regard as a promising compound. In 2010, we were the first laboratory to demonstrate that CBD is effective in animal models of predictive of antidepressant effect, a finding now confirmed by several other groups. Recent evidence suggests that CBD promotes both a rapid and a sustained antidepressant effect in animal models. CBD has a complex pharmacology, with the ability to interact with multiple neurotransmitter systems involved in depression, including the serotonergic, glutamatergic, and endocannabinoid systems. Moreover, CBD induces cellular and molecular changes in brain regions related to depression neurobiology, such as increased Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) levels and synaptogenesis in the medial prefrontal cortex, as well as it increases neurogenesis in the hippocampus. This review presents a comprehensive critical overview of the current literature related to the antidepressant effects of CBD, with focus at the possible mechanisms. Finally, challenges and perspectives for future research are discussed.
KW - Antidepressant
KW - BDNF
KW - Cannabidiol
KW - Depression
KW - Neurochemical
KW - Neuroplasticity
U2 - 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2019.04.006
DO - 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2019.04.006
M3 - Review
C2 - 31039391
SN - 0891-0618
VL - 98
SP - 104
EP - 116
JO - Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy
JF - Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy
ER -