title: The effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Cannabis Sativa on appetite hormone in rat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ghrelin is an orexigenic peptide which is secreted from stomach. Cannabis sativa is known as an orexigenic herb in Iranian traditional medicine. Little evidence is published about its effect on energy intake and its mechanism. In the current study, the possible effect of hydroalcoholic extract of C. sativa on appetite and ghrelin is evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups. Two control groups were selected, the first group received 0.5 mL water per day (vehicle group) and another group did not receive anything (control group). The other three groups were treated daily with 50, 100 or 150 mg/kg of C. sativa for 7 days, respectively. Daily energy intake of the rats was calculated for 10 days prior to the> intervention and for the 7 day intervention. To investigate changes in plasma ghrelin as a potential mechanism, an orexigenic dose (150 mg/kg) of C. sativa or distilled water (vehicle) was fed to two separate groups of six rats by gavage. Total ghrelin levels in plasma were measured for 3 h post-gavage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in energy intake between control and vehicle groups. Treatment with 100 and 150 mg/kg of the extract significantly increased energy intake vs the other groups (p<0.05). Total ghrelin levels were significantly elevated in the C. sativa group vs vehicle 30 and 60 min post-gavage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that C. sativa had both positive and dose-related effects on appetite of rats. Future studies are warranted to evaluate the orexigenic effect of this plant in human.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazidi
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baghban Taraghdari
authors.forename: Peyman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rezaee
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamgar
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Jomezadeh
authors.forename: Omid
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Akbarieh Hasani
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soukhtanloo
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gholamnezhad
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rakhshandeh
authors.forename: Abdolreza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Norouzy
authors.forename: Habibollah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Esmaily
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nematy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects; D002188:Cannabis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000187:drug effects*; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D010936:Plant Extracts