Endocannabinoids Part II: pathological CNS conditions involving the endocannabinoid system and their possible treatment with endocannabinoid-based drugs

Abstract

Changes in the levels of either the cannabinoid CB₁ receptors or of their endogenous ligands, anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol, appear to be casual or consequential in many neurological disorders. Several examples of how such diseases may be treated by substances capable of selectively manipulating endocannabinoid levels and action are presented, using animal models of neuropathological conditions, such as motor disorders, multiple sclerosis, neuronal damage, chronic and inflammatory pain, anorexia, cachexia and motivational disturbances. These examples indicate that new therapeutic agents, lacking the undesirable psychotropic side effects of Cannabis, may be developed from current studies on the endocannabinoid system.

• Alzheimer’s disease
• cachexia
• cannabinoids
• chronic pain
• epilepsy
• multiple sclerosis
• obesity
• psychomotor disorders