A new peer-reviewed study published in Pharmaceuticals finds that both CBD and THC, alone and in combination, suppressed seizures and reduce brain inflammation in an animal model.
Researchers from the Federal University of Ceará and the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia tested the effects of oral doses of CBD, THC, and a CBD/THC combination in both acute and chronic seizure models induced with pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). In the acute model, all cannabinoids significantly increased the time it took for mice to experience seizures and death, with improved survival rates at doses of 3 to 10 mg/kg.
In the chronic model, repeated treatment with 10 mg/kg of CBD or low-dose CBD/THC combinations (1.5 and 3 mg/kg) delayed seizure progression, performing comparably to valproic acid, a standard antiepileptic medication. However, the higher 6 mg/kg CBD/THC dose showed no seizure-protective benefit.
Importantly, both CBD and the combination therapy reduced oxidative and nitrosative stress in brain tissue and appeared to mitigate astrogliosis, a form of neuroinflammation linked to epilepsy. This was evidenced by biochemical and immunohistochemical changes in the hippocampus.
Despite these benefits, the cannabinoids failed to prevent cognitive impairments in memory-based tasks such as novel object recognition and the Y maze, suggesting that while seizure control may improve, some aspects of brain function remain unaffected.
Researchers also emphasized the importance of using nanoemulsions for cannabinoid delivery, which enhanced bioavailability and therapeutic response.
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