The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is an internal system in our bodies that maintains homeostasis and immunoregulation. The ECS has influence over inflammatory responses, platelet aggregation, blood pressure, heart rate, vasodilatation, and energy balance. The cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 are both members of the superfamily of metabotropic G‐protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs). CB1 receptors, located mostly in the neurons of the brain however they also are present in the peripheral nervous system. CB2 receptors are found mostly in the immune system[i].

CBD is considered to have pharmacological actions such as anxiolytic, antipsychotic, antiemetic and anti-inflammatory properties[ii]. There have been various therapeutic benefits that scientists have been exploring with CBD as summarised in table 1. These scientific studies presented are not an exhaustive list.

Table 1. Various research topics published in scientific journals using CBD

Research topic that was investigated	Scientific paper
Anxiety	Lemos et al., 2010, Almeida et al., 2013, Shannon et al., 2016 Crippa et al., 2011, Blessing et al., 2015
Cancer	Rocha et al., 2014, Ramer et al., 2014
Cardiovascular diseases	Durst et al., 2007, Booz 2011
Depression	El-alfy et al., 2010, Hsiao et al., 2012, Shoval et al., 2016
Diabetic complications	Weiss et al., 2006, Rajesh et al., 2010
Epilepsy	Maa 2014, Cilio et al., 2014, Millar et al., 2019
Huntington’s disease	Iuvone et al., 2009, Sagredo et al., 2011
Hypoxia ischemia injury	Pazos et al., 2012, Hayakawa et al., 2007
Inflammatory bowel and Chron’s diseases	Sacerdote et al., 2005, De Flilippis et al,. 2011
Inflammatory diseases	Ribeiro et al., 2012, Mecha et al., 2012
Insomnia	Shannon et al., 2016, Shannon et al., 2019
Nausea	Parker et al., 2002
Pain	Crippa et al., 2015, Gomes et al., 2015, Notcutt et al., 2004
Parkinson’s disease	Zuardi et al., 2009, Khoury et al., 2016
Rheumatoid arthritis	Malfait et al., 2000
Schizophrenia	McGuire et al., 2017, Mannucci et al., 2017

These scientific studies presented are not an exhaustive list.

Registered Clinical Trials 

There are over 600 clinical trials registered with the Clinical Trials Register[iii]  key therapeutic areas are summarised in table 2.

The numbers of clinical trials being assessed is likely to grow as more scientific knowledge becomes available around CBD.

 

Table 2.  Summary of clinical trial’s key therapeutic areas

Therapeutic indication: conditions being assessed*	Number of ongoing trials approx.
Parkinson’s disease	172
Pain	58
Epilepsy	29
Cancer	28
Bile duct/ GIT (inflammatory bowel/Chron’s disease)	20
Anxiety and depression	14
Schizophrenia	13
Stroke	6
Autism/Attention Deficit Disorder	5
Alcohol use disorder	4
Rheumatoid Disease	2
Contraception	2
Multiple Sclerosis	2

*Non exhaustive list

Manipulation of a compromised ECS, by the use of exogenous cannabinoids in vivo can constitute as a potential treatment against various disorders as mentioned above.

i Alfulaij, Naghum et al. “Cannabinoids, the Heart of the Matter.” Journal of the American Heart Association vol. 7,14 e009099. 13 Jul. 2018, doi:10.1161/JAHA.118.009099

ii Alfulaij, Naghum et al. “Cannabinoids, the Heart of the Matter.” Journal of the American Heart Association vol. 7,14 e009099. 13 Jul. 2018, doi:10.1161/JAHA.118.009099 Bergamaschi, Mateus Machado et al. “Safety and side effects of cannabidiol, a Cannabis sativa constituent.” Current drug safety vol. 6,4 (2011): 237-49. doi:10.2174/157488611798280924

iii Clinical Trials.org <https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=&term=CBD&cntry=&state=&city=&dist=> accessed 3 June 2020