For decades intoxicating heavy smoke has hid the medical benefits of the pot . Because of this, Governments outlawed the poor plant Cannabis Sativa together with its cousins indica and ruderalis, root, stalk and leaves. But how long can you suppress scientific curiosity? Now scientists want to relook at the plant and the chemicals it produces, because they believe cannabinoids( a general term for chemicals derived from the plant) could lead to very useful pharmaceutical products. Governmental regulations in some countries have loosened their grip to allow enough flexibility for scientific research.
GW pharmaceuticals based in UK holds permission for conducting research in cannabinoids. A mouthspray developed from whole cannabis extract is approved in several countries for treatment of spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients. Another drug for epilepsy will soon be in market.
It is assumed that Cannabis plant originated in central Asia and spread across the globe. Humans made use of the plant mainly for the grain and fiber (hemp). Somewhere around 2700 BC , Chinese emperor Shen Nung discovered the medicinal potential of the plant. Its leaves or buds were burnt and smoke inhaled to relieve pain. Millenniums later,while working at the Medical College of Calcutta, India, W.B O'Shaughnessy an Irish doctor, discovered the use of Cannabis among the natives both as a medicine as well as recreational drug. In October 1839 , he presented a paper On the preparations of the Indian Hemp (orGunjah) . Portuguese physician Garcia de Orta, spent better part of his life in India researching tropical medicines. In his book Colloquies on the simples and drugs of India gives a detailed account of Bangue, Cannabis indica. But these were not exactly systematic scientific studies and hence the medical benefits of Cannabis remained unsubstantiated. That is the flashback for Marijuana the grass and its crudely refined products hashish/charas.
On the leaves and buds the plant bears little pimple like protrusions called trichomes and these are rich in a variety of chemicals classified as cannabinoids, terpenes etc. The poor plant produces these chemicals for a variety of reasons for example to to lessen moisture loss, to ward off predators and to shield off ultraviolet rays. Reading O'Shaughnessy's paper British chemists were excited and they isolated Cannabinol from the plant extract in 1899.
 |
| Cannabis flowers with Trichome Courtesy Wikipedia |
 |
| Cannabinol: Courtsey:Wikipedia |
Chemists were just rolling up their sleeves to dig deeper into the plant concoctions to isolate more active ingredients, but alas International Regulations and Laws banned the handling and use of psychotropic substances. Special pemissions had to be obtained to work on all narcotics. But there are those who are not easily deterred. And hence a few groups toiled on. Israeli chemist Mechoulam isolated the one and only psychotropic ingredient in Cannabis, Tetra Hydro Cannabinol (THC). It was indeed a huge morale boost for them when follow up studies by neuro pharmacologists showed that humans have built in receptors CB1 and CB2 specially reserved for Cannabinoids. That meant two things: the human body is equipped to receive cannabinoidlike chemicals and might actually be producing some ! Of these receptors CB1 type is found mostly in the central nervous system and CB2 in the immune system. In 2014, a review appeared in the journal of American Academy of Neurology on the Efficacy and safety of medical marijuana in selected neurologial disorders. .
 |
| Cannabidiol(CBD) Courtesy: wikipedia |
 |
| Tetra Hydro cannabinol(THC) Courtesy: wikipedia |
GW pharmaceuticals based in UK holds permission for conducting research in cannabinoids. A mouthspray developed from whole cannabis extract is approved in several countries for treatment of spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients. Another drug for epilepsy will soon be in market.
Reference
1. Cannabis Outlook: Nature 24 September 2015.
