X-Message-Number: 28161
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 12:45:16 +0200
From: "Eivind Berge" <>

Subject: Cannabidiol and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol are neuroprotective 
antioxidants

[Consider adding pot smoking to the cryonics premedication regimen.]

Cannabidiol and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol are neuroprotective antioxidants
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 95, Issue 14, 8268-8273, July 7, 1998
A. J. Hampson, M. Grimaldi, J. Axelrod, and D. Wink
Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Regulation, National Institutes
of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892; Laboratory of Adaptive Systems,
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD
20892; and Radiology and Biology Branch, National Cancer Institute,
Bethesda, MD 20892

The neuroprotective actions of cannabidiol and other cannabinoids were
examined in rat cortical neuron cultures exposed to toxic levels of
the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. Glutamate toxicity was
reduced by both cannabidiol, a nonpsychoactive constituent of
marijuana, and the psychotropic cannabinoid
delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Cannabinoids protected equally
well against neurotoxicity mediated by N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors,
2-amino-3-(4-butyl-3-hydroxyisoxazol-5-yl)propionic acid receptors, or
kainate receptors. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-induced toxicity has
been shown to be calcium dependent; this study demonstrates that
2-amino-3-(4-butyl-3-hydroxyisoxazol-5-yl)propionic acid/kainate
receptor-type neurotoxicity is also calcium-dependent, partly mediated
by voltage sensitive calcium channels. The neuroprotection observed
with cannabidiol and THC was unaffected by cannabinoid receptor
antagonist, indicating it to be cannabinoid receptor independent.
Previous studies have shown that glutamate toxicity may be prevented
by antioxidants. Cannabidiol, THC and several synthetic cannabinoids
all were demonstrated to be antioxidants by cyclic voltametry.
Cannabidiol and THC also were shown to prevent hydroperoxide-induced
oxidative damage as well as or better than other antioxidants in a
chemical (Fenton reaction) system and neuronal cultures. Cannabidiol
was more protective against glutamate neurotoxicity than either
ascorbate or alpha-tocopherol, indicating it to be a potent
antioxidant. These data also suggest that the naturally occurring,
nonpsychotropic cannabinoid, cannabidiol, may be a potentially useful
therapeutic agent for the treatment of oxidative neurological
disorders such as cerebral ischemia.

Full text at

http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/95/14/8268

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