Use of Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Hepatitis

Abstract

Cannabinoids are known to interact with CB1 and CB2 receptors expressed in the nervous and immune systems mediating a wide range of effects, including anti-inflammatory properties. However, cannabinoids that bind CB1 are also psychoactive thereby limiting their clinical use. Cannabidiol (CBD) is the most abundant nonpsychotropic plant cannabinoid but has not been studied as extensively as Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The present disclosure reports the immunosuppressive properties of CBD and demonstrates that CBD induces apoptosis in thymocytes and splenocytes and inhibits the proliferative responsiveness of T and B cells. This indicates that CB2 selective agonists, devoid of psychotropic effect, may serve as novel anti-inflammatory/immunosuppressive agents.

1 . A method for inducing apoptosis of thymocytes in a subject, the method comprising administering to a subject an amount of cannabidiol greater than about 100 milligrams cannabidiol per kilogram mass of the subject, said cannabidiol being synthetic cannabidiol or natural cannabidiol isolated from other natural cannabinoids, wherein upon administration of said cannabidiol, thymic cellularity of said subject decreases, and wherein said cannabidiol is administered to the subject substantially free of any psychotropic agent. 
     
     
         2 . The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing said cannabidiol in a drug delivery vehicle.   
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 2 , wherein the drug delivery vehicle is a sustained release drug delivery vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the method is an in vivo therapeutic or prophylactic treatment method. 
     
     
         5 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein said cannabidiol is injected into the subject. 
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the subject is suffering from autoimmune hepatitis. 
     
     
         7 . The method for inducing apoptosis of splenocytes in a subject, the method comprising administering to a subject an amount of cannabidiol greater than about 50 milligrams cannabidiol per kilogram mass of the subject; said cannabidiol being synthetic cannabidiol or natural cannabidiol isolated from other natural cannabinoids, wherein upon administration of said cannabidiol, splenic cellularity of said subject decreases, and wherein said cannabidiol is administered to the subject substantially free of any psychotropic agent. 
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 providing said cannabidiol in a drug delivery vehicle.   
     
     
         9 . The method as in  claim 8 , wherein the drug delivery vehicle is a sustained release drug delivery vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The method as in  claim 7 , wherein the method is an in vivo therapeutic or prophylactic treatment method. 
     
     
         11 . The method as in  claim 7 , wherein said cannabidiol is injected into the subject. 
     
     
         12 . The method as in  claim 7 , wherein the subject is suffering from autoimmune hepatitis. 
     
     
         13 . The method for decreasing the level of plasma aspartate transaminase in a subject, the method comprising administering cannabidiol to a subject exhibiting elevated levels of plasma aspartate transaminase, said cannabidiol being synthetic cannabidiol or natural cannabidiol isolated from other natural cannabinoids, wherein following administration of said cannabidiol, the subject's level of plasma aspartate transaminase decreases, and wherein said cannabidiol is administered to the subject substantially free of any psychotropic agent. 
     
     
         14 . The method as in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 providing said cannabidiol in a drug delivery vehicle.   
     
     
         15 . The method as in  claim 14 , wherein the drug delivery vehicle is a sustained release drug delivery vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The method as in  claim 13 , wherein the method is an in vivo therapeutic or prophylactic treatment method. 
     
     
         17 . The method as in  claim 13 , wherein said cannabidiol is injected into the subject. 
     
     
         18 . The method as in  claim 13 , wherein the subject is suffering from autoimmune hepatitis. 
     
     
         19 . The method as in  claim 13 , wherein the cannabidiol is administered to said subject in an amount greater than about 50 milligrams cannabidiol per kilogram mass of the subject.