Citation

Lins BR, Anyaegbu CC, Hellewell SC, Papini M, McGonigle T, De Prato L, Shales M, Fitzgerald M. J. Neuroinflammation 2023; 20(1): e77.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/s12974-023-02734-9

PMID

36935484

PMCID

PMC10026409

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury is common, and often results in debilitating consequences. Even mild traumatic brain injury leaves approximately 20% of patients with symptoms that persist for months. Despite great clinical need there are currently no approved pharmaceutical interventions that improve outcomes after traumatic brain injury. Increased understanding of the endocannabinoid system in health and disease has accompanied growing evidence for therapeutic benefits of Cannabis sativa. This has driven research of Cannabis' active chemical constituents (phytocannabinoids), alongside endogenous and synthetic counterparts, collectively known as cannabinoids. Also of therapeutic interest are other Cannabis constituents, such as terpenes. Cannabinoids interact with neurons, microglia, and astrocytes, and exert anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects which are highly desirable for the management of traumatic brain injury. In this review, we comprehensively appraised the relevant scientific literature, where major and minor phytocannabinoids, terpenes, synthetic cannabinoids, and endogenous cannabinoids were assessed in TBI, or other neurological conditions with pathology and symptomology relevant to TBI, as well as recent studies in preclinical TBI models and clinical TBI populations.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Concussion; Traumatic brain injury; Inflammation; Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; *Brain Concussion; *Cannabinoids/pharmacology/therapeutic use; *Cannabis/chemistry; CNS injury; Endocannabinoid system; Neuroprotection; Neurotrauma; Terpenes; Terpenes/therapeutic use