Isolation of ocular hypotensive agents from Cannabis sativa.
Recent work in our laboratories has shown that a hydrophilic fraction from Cannabis sativa (marihuana) has extremely potent intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering activity as measured in albino rabbits when delivered by intravenous injection. A crude extract reduced IOP by 50-60 per cent (to the episcleral venous pressure) at dosage levels of about 500 micrograms/animal. Fractionation of this material by solvent extraction, high-performance liquid chromatography, and gel filtration chromatography has produced samples with high activity at 50 micrograms/animal. The active material has been shown to be noncannabinoid and of high molecular weight.
D000818:Animals; D002188:Cannabis / Q000032:analysis*; D002848:Chromatography, DEAE-Cellulose; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D005612:Freeze Drying; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors
D010936:Plant Extracts