The therapeutic effects of the Cannabis sativa plant, and especially its psychoactive compound, tetrahydrocarbocannabinol (THC), continue to be questioned on a social level, despite the numerous evidences in this regard.
This organic substance, responsible for the effects of relationship and analgesia, alteration of the visual, auditory, and olfactory senses, and appetite stimulation, has proven efficacy in the treatment of immune diseases, although it is true that it has been linked to development of schizophrenia and psychosis in genetically predisposed individuals. However, without exceeding its consumption, THC would provide important pharmacological effects, which would even stop the deadly tumor growth characteristic of cancer, as indicated by new research.
The anticancer properties of THC, the main cannabinoid of the more than 60 present in the controversial plant, had already been observed by previous research. The collaborative work between the University of East Anglia and the Complutense University of Madrid, in addition to confirming this fact, has identified the cannabinoid receptors of the cells that are directly involved in such antitumor effects . The team of scientists used samples of human cancer cells to induce tumors in mice and to observe the response of cell receptors to the administration of a dose of the psychoactive compound. The results revealed that the effect of THC was due to the joint interaction of the CB2 and GPR55 receptors, located in the brain and in the lymphatic system.
Given the significance of the finding, the authors of the work emphasize that cancer patients should not self-medicate, since their experiment was developed in an isolated environment and with a very precise dose. However, they hope it is the first step towards developing an equivalent synthetic compound that can be safely ingested.
