Italian researchers have studied 3 important cannabinoids. A team of scientists from the Endocannabinoid Research Group in Italy researched the influence of cannabinoids in brain development. This study specifically focused on the role of cannabis in the formation of human brain cells. For this, the researchers examined neutral progenitor stem cells (NPSCs), which are essential for brain function.
NPSCs are stem cells of the brain. They are precursors for the 3 cell types of the brain: neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. Because NPCs are capable of forming each of these cell types under certain conditions, they are being researched for their effectiveness in treating diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and multiple sclerosis. One type of NPSC daughter cell is astrocytes. They are the most abundant cells in the brain, their job is to protect the neurons that send signals through the nervous system. In the case of nerve damage, astrocytes repair the damaged area and replace any areas that cannot be repaired.
The great interest in these brain stem cells can be explained by the high benefit that influencing these astrocytes and their development would contain. This could enable scientists to completely restore even damaged nerves.
Can cannabis increase neutral progenitor stem cells?
The Italian cannabinoid study, published in Neurochemie Internationale, investigated the effects of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBG (cannabigerol) and CBC (cannabichromene). The importance of CBC stood out in particular. The researchers found that CBC is associated with increased levels of NPSCs. At the same time, CBC helps brain stem cells to survive, which means that the development of brain cells could be decisively influenced by CBC.
The study focuses on individual cannabinoids, but it has been proven many times, and is in the nature of how cannabinoids work, that all cannabis in general is most effective. To date, over 70 cannabinoids have been found, but it is believed that there are over 400 effective compounds in cannabis. Based on what we know so far, the cannabinoids interact with each other. It is not the same when individual cannabinoids are isolated, only the whole cannabis possesses the synergistic effects.
Dr. Xia Jiang of the University of Saskatchewan conducted one of the first THC studies on the topic of THC and nerve growth (neurogenesis). She summarized the results of the 2005 study in an interview with the scientific journal Science Daily as follows:
"Most drugs, when abused, produce suppression of neurogenesis. Only marijuana promotes nerve growth."
Kandy Kush by Reserva Privada is a medicinal strain with high CBC content.
<<mehr zum Thema Cannabis als Medizin>>
