A new study published in the Journal of Xenobiotics found that cannabidiol (CBD) improved memory-related performance and reduced brain oxidative stress in female rats exposed to chronic stress and alcohol.
Researchers from George Emil Palade University of Medicine studied 16 female Wistar rats, half of which received CBD at a dose of 10 mg/kg. The animals were first exposed to three weeks of chronic unpredictable stress, followed by a three-week treatment period that included three separate alcohol exposure sessions.
According to the study, CBD-treated rats showed improved performance in memory-related tests, including the Y maze and Morris Water Maze. In the Morris Water Maze, CBD-treated animals spent significantly more time in the target quadrant, suggesting a protective effect on spatial memory.
The study also found that CBD significantly reduced brain levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of oxidative stress. Plasma MDA levels were lower in the CBD group, but the difference was not statistically significant.
However, researchers found no clear anxiolytic effect. CBD-treated rats showed increased freezing time in the Open Field test, while the Elevated Plus Maze showed no statistically significant differences between groups.
The authors said CBD-treated rats showed a trend toward lower alcohol consumption, although the difference did not reach statistical significance. They also noted several limitations, including the small sample size, the use of only female rats, a single CBD dose and the lack of a non-stressed control group.
The study concludes that CBD showed potential cognitive and central antioxidant effects in female rats exposed to chronic stress and alcohol, but further research is needed to better understand its role in stress-related behavioral and biochemical changes.
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