title: Cannabinoid-based drugs as anti-inflammatory therapeutics.
abstract: In the nineteenth century, marijuana was prescribed by physicians for maladies ranging from eating disorders to rabies. However, as newer, more effective drugs were discovered and as the potential for abuse of marijuana was recognized, its use as a therapeutic became restricted, and only recently has its therapeutic potential been re-evaluated. Recent studies in animal models and in humans have produced promising results for the treatment of various disorders - such as obesity, cancer, and spasticity and tremor due to neuropathology - with drugs based on marijuana-derived cannabinoids. Moreover, as I discuss here, a wealth of information also indicates that these drugs have immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties; therefore, on the basis of this mode of action, the therapeutic usefulness of these drugs in chronic inflammatory diseases is now being reassessed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA. tklein@hsc.usf.edu
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid / Q000378:metabolism; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002186:Cannabinoids; D016207:Cytokines; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid