In a new study the administration of CBD “resulted in a significant improvement in the biochemical, antioxidant status, morphological, and molecular measures in leukemia in adult male rats.”
The study was conducted by researchers at the University Rey Juan Carlos (Spain), the Scientific Research Superior Council (Spain), Victoria University (Australia), the University of Melbourne (Australia), the Australian Institute of Musculoskeletal Science and the Working Group of Basic Sciences on Pain and Analgesia of the Spanish Pain Society.
According to researchers, who note that “Cannabidiol (CBD) has anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties”, the purpose of this study “was to investigate the possible protective and therapeutic benefits of CBD oil in DMBA-induced leukemia in rats.”
The study was published by the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
For the study experimental animals were divided into six groups of five rats each.
“Group 1 (normal control) included healthy rats. Group 2 included normal rats that received olive oil. Group 3 included normal rats that received CBD. Group 4 included the DMBA-induced leukemic group. Group 5 (prophylactic group) included rats that received CBD as a prophylaxis before IV injection with DMBA. Group 6 (treated group) included DMBA-induced leukemic rats that received CBD as treatment.”
Liver functions (total, direct and indirect bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin, globulin, and albumin globulin ratio) were measured.
“Administration of CBD in groups 5 and 6 resulted in a significant improvement of the levels of liver functions compared to the leukemic untreated rats”, states the study. “Also, the levels of catalase and SOD significantly increased after treatment with CBD compared to the leukemic group.”
After treatment with CBD in groups 5 and 6, “there were downregulations in the expression of all studied genes compared to leukemic untreated rats. Treatment with CBD was more statistically effective than prophylactic use.”
Researchers conclude:
Administration of CBD resulted in a significant improvement in the biochemical, antioxidant status, morphological, and molecular measures in DMBA-induced leukemia in adult male rats. The therapeutic use was more effective than the prophylactic one.
