title: Therapeutic potential of cannabidiol against ischemia/reperfusion liver injury in rats.
abstract: The therapeutic potential of cannabidiol, the major non-psychotropic Cannabis constituent, was investigated in rats exposed to ischemia/reperfusion liver injury. Ischemia was induced by clamping the pedicle of the left hepatic lobe for 30 min, and cannabidiol (5mg/kg, i.v.) was given 1h following the procedure and every 24h thereafter for 2 days. Ischemia/reperfusion caused significant elevations of serum alanine aminotransferase and hepatic malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-α and nitric oxide levels, associated with significant decrease in hepatic reduced glutathione. Cannabidiol significantly attenuated the deterioration in the measured biochemical parameters mediated by ischemia/reperfusion. Histopathological examination showed that cannabidiol ameliorated ischemia/reperfusion-induced liver damage. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that cannabidiol significantly reduced the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, nuclear factor-κB, Fas ligand and caspase-3, and increased the expression of survivin protein in ischemic/reperfused liver tissue. These results emphasize that cannabidiol represents a potential therapeutic option to protect the liver against hypoxia-reoxygenation injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacology Division, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. amrfouad65@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Amr A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Fouad
authors.forename: Iyad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jresat
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D002185:Cannabidiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002185:Cannabidiol; D000410:Alanine Transaminase