title: Cannabinoids as gastrointestinal anti-inflammatory drugs.
abstract: In this mini-review, we focus on the potential of the endocannabinoid system as a target for novel therapies to treat gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation. We discuss the organization of the endocannabinoid signaling and present possible pharmacological sites in the endocannabinoid system. We also refer to recent clinical findings in the field. Finally, we point at the potential use of cannabinoids at low, non-psychoactive doses to counteract non-inflammatory pathological events in the GI tract, like chemotherapy-induced diarrhea, as evidenced by Abalo et al. in the rat model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabisiak
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8443-4417
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fichna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002186:Cannabinoids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid
keywords: endocannabinoid metabolism; gastrointestinal tract; inflammation; “classical” and “non-classical” cannabinoid receptors