Anti-oxidant effects of cannabidiol relevant to intracerebral hemorrhage

Front Pharmacol. 2023 Sep 28:14:1247550. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1247550. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a subtype of stroke with a high mortality rate. Oxidative stress cascades play an important role in brain injury after ICH. Cannabidiol, a major non-psychotropic phytocannabinoids, has drawn increasing interest in recent years as a potential therapeutic intervention for various neuropsychiatric disorders. Here we provide a comprehensive review of the potential therapeutic effects of cannabidiol in countering oxidative stress resulting from ICH. The review elaborates on the various sources of oxidative stress post-ICH, including mitochondrial dysfunction, excitotoxicity, iron toxicity, inflammation, and also highlights cannabidiol's ability to inhibit ROS/RNS generation from these sources. The article also delves into cannabidiol's role in promoting ROS/RNS scavenging through the Nrf2/ARE pathway, detailing both extranuclear and intranuclear regulatory mechanisms. Overall, the review underscores cannabidiol's promising antioxidant effects in the context of ICH and suggests its potential as a therapeutic option.

Keywords: CBD; Nrf2/ARE (antioxidant response element) pathway; cannabidiol; intracerebral hemorrhage; oxidative stress.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

The authors acknowledge operating grant support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grants nos: 82071331, 81870942, and 81520108011), National Key Research and Development Program of China (grant no: 2018YFC1312200), and from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Foundation grant 1049959) (VY).