Authors:
F. Vuolo, F. Petronilho, B. Sonai, C. Ritter, J. Hallak, A. Zuardi, J. Crippa & F. Dal-Pizzol.
Citation:
Mediators of Inflammation, Vol 2015, Article ID 538670
Background:
Asthma is an allergic disease that is characterized by airway inflammation, hyperresponsiveness of the bronchi, and airway obstruction. The endocannabinoid system is expressed in the airways and is involved in bronchoconstriction and bronchodilation. Since CBD reduces inflammation, a 2015 study explored whether CBD could reduce the asthma inflammatory response.
Who was it?
This study used mice with experimentally induced asthma. Like humans, mice express the endocannabinoid system in their airways.
What was done?
Mice were divided into three groups: (1) a control group (no asthma, no CBD), (2) an asthma only group (no CBD), and (3) a group with asthma treated with CBD for two days. Blood levels of six inflammatory cytokines, known to be elevated in asthma, were measured.
What happened?
Levels of all inflammatory cytokines were increased in the asthma only group, but treatment with CBD reduced all cytokines except for IL-10. In the asthma + CBD treatment group, levels of inflammatory cytokines were comparable (or even lower) than in the control group without asthma.
Fringe Commentary:
In this study using an animal model of inflammatory asthma, treatment with CBD yielded a powerful anti-inflammatory effect through the reduction of five cytokines. While these findings need to be replicated in humans, it is possible that CBD could be used in the prevention and treatment of human asthma.
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