Cannabidiol: from an inactive cannabinoid to a drug with wide spectrum of action.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this review is to describe the historical development of research on cannabidiol.


METHODS
This review was carried out on reports drawn from Medline, Web of Science and SciELO.


CONCLUSIONS
After the elucidation of the chemical structure of cannabidiol in 1963, the initial studies showed that cannabidiol was unable to mimic the effects of Cannabis. In the 1970's the number of publications on cannabidiol reached a first peak, having the research focused mainly on the interaction with delta9-THC and its antiepileptic and sedative effects. The following two decades showed lower degree of interest, and the potential therapeutic properties of cannabidiol investigated were mainly the anxiolytic, antipsychotic and on motor diseases effects. The last five years have shown a remarkable increase in publications on cannabidiol mainly stimulated by the discovery of its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and neuroprotective effects. These studies have suggested a wide range of possible therapeutic effects of cannabidiol on several conditions, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, cerebral ischemia, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, other inflammatory diseases, nausea and cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
In the last 45 years it has been possible to demonstrate that CBD has a wide range of pharmacological effects, many of which being of great therapeutic interest, but still waiting to be confirmed by clinical trials.
Zuardi
Antonio Waldo
AW
Department of Neurology, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. awzuardi@fmrp.usp.br
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D035843:Biomedical Research; D002185:Cannabidiol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002188:Cannabis / Q000737:chemistry*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000932:Antiemetics; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D002185:Cannabidiol