Studies In Vitro and In Vivo of antileishmanial activity and Differential Cytotoxicity of Cannabis spp.

Current research looks at the scientific findings on the potential of Cannabis to treat skin lesions, discovering the role played by the endocannabinoid system in maintaining healthy skin and wound healing, and validating the potential of Cannabis in the topical treatment of cutaneous lesions. Due to its anti-inflammatory and healing properties, the study aimed to confirm the in vitro and in vivo antileishmanial effect of Cannabis spp. Three ethanol extracts from Cannabis Nicole Kush strain (75% C. indica and 25% C. sativa) were prepared by percolation. The cytotoxicity was evaluated on different cell lines and primary culture cells using the 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) colorimetric method while the antileishmanial activity was evaluated on L. braziliensis amastigotes by flow cytometry. The results were expressed as median Lethal Concentration (LC₅₀) for cytotoxicity and the median Effective Concentration (EC₅₀) for effectiveness [1]. The content of cannabinoids was determined by chromatography. A cream and a lotion formulation were prepared and tested in hamsters experimentally infected with L. braziliensis [2]. The most active extract in vitro (EC₅₀ 24 mg/mL) was the extract with the higher percentage of THC (18%). The remained two extracts had moderate activity (EC₅₀ 28.2 and 32.8 mg/mL, respectively). No differential cytotoxicity was observed. The cream formulation of the most active extract showed cure 80% of hasmters after treatment. This is the first report of antileishmanial activity in Cannabis spp. Since this plant has been associated with anti-inflammatory effects, is possible to think that Cannabis extract could be a good alternative for the management of uncomplicated cutaneous leishmaniasis.

[1] Duque-Benítez SM, Ríos-Vásquez LA, Ocampo-Cardona R, Cedeño DL, Jones MA, Vélez ID, Robledo SM. Molecules 2016; 21: 381.

[2] Robledo SM, Carrillo LM, Daza A, Restrepo AM, Muñoz DL, Tobón J, et al. J Vis Exp. 2012; 62, 3533.