A new scientific review says there’s “accumulating” evidence that the marijuana component CBD “has antidepressant properties in humans and animals with few side effects” and may also aid in the reduction of inflammation and formation of new brain cells.
“In summary,” says the manuscript, newly accepted by the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, “there is growing evidence that CBD may be a promising candidate for the treatment of depression.”
The review notes that while the anti-depressant effects of the cannabinoid have been previously reported, the mechanisms of action behind those effects are still poorly understood. “Therefore, this paper reviews the molecular targets, pharmacokinetics, and safety of CBD,” it says.
Authors from the departments of pharmacology at Nantong University, the First People’s Hospital of Yancheng and the Jiangyin Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine—all in Jiangsu, China—looked at recently published papers on experimental and clinical studies around CBD, concluding that effects seem to be linked to the cannabinoid’s role in reducing inflammation and enhancing neurogenesis.
As for the cannabinoids’ targets in the human body, authors wrote that “receptor mechanisms underlying CBD’s effects are very complex and involve in multiple receptors including CB1, CB2, GPR55, 5-HT1A, and PPARγ receptors.”
Hellbound and Down 