Cannabidiol in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders: new paths

Abstract

Among the more than 200 phytocannabinoids present in the Cannabis sativa plant, the one that has received the most attention regarding therapeutic potential is cannabidiol (CBD). The number of scientific works aimed at investigating this potential has been increasing exponentially. Results obtained in recent decades suggest that CBD may be useful in a large number of neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, mood and anxiety disorders, substance dependence, autism, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. The contribution of our research group to this investigation is significant and widely recognized in the global literature. Nevertheless, several aspects of CBD pharmacology and similar molecules remain obscure. The most significant one concerns the mechanism of action. Our group's work has been pioneering in demonstrating that CBD acts, in vivo, through various mechanisms that depend, at least in part, on the condition for which it is being employed. As over 60 molecular targets of CBD have already been described by in vitro studies, the involvement of several of these targets in the observed in vivo effects still needs to be investigated. Another aspect of CBD pharmacology that remains relatively unexplored is its use as a complementary treatment (add-on) to well-established drugs to enhance efficacy and/or reduce adverse effects. Finally, pharmacokinetic aspects are recognized as limiting factors for the clinical use of CBD. In view of this, this project aims to continue the research on the pharmacological properties of CBD and similar molecules developed by our group, seeking to investigate, as specific objectives: 1. the involvement of still little explored in vivo mechanisms of CBD, such as the influence and interaction between neurotrophic factors and inflammatory mechanisms with alterations in enteric microbiota in its therapeutic and preventive effects (another understudied point); and 2. the potential of CBD use as an "add-on" therapy in neuropsychiatric disorders. (AU)