A new preclinical study finds that a cannabidiol (CBD) nanoemulsion could protect against both brain and gut damage caused by Parkinson’s disease, while also improving behavior and reducing inflammation.
Published in the European Journal of Pharmacology, the study was conducted by researchers at the Federal University of Ceará in Brazil. It used a rat model of Parkinson’s disease induced by the toxin rotenone, which mimics the disease’s characteristic neurodegeneration, including the buildup of α-synuclein and increased oxidative stress.
Rats exposed to rotenone experienced significant motor and cognitive impairments, elevated oxidative stress, and reductions in glutathione, an important antioxidant. They also showed increased α-synuclein accumulation and inflammation not only in the brain but also in the intestine—a common site of dysfunction in Parkinson’s patients.
Treatment with the CBD nanoemulsion reversed these effects in a dose-dependent manner. It restored glutathione levels, reduced oxidative damage and inflammation markers, and improved behavioral test performance. The formulation also appeared to protect against weight loss associated with the disease model.
The findings support the potential of CBD nanoemulsions as a therapeutic option for managing both the central and peripheral symptoms of Parkinson’s, particularly by targeting oxidative stress and protein aggregation linked to disease progression.
For more information on this study, click here.
