 |
Cannabis
could be used to prevent cancer spreading, according to groundbreaking research
conducted by British scientists.
Research carried out by a team from the University of East
Anglia showed how the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis,
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), could be useful for shrinking tumors.
The
scientists injected THC into laboratory mice bearing human cancer cells, and
were able to identify for the first time two receptors in particular that were
responsible for the compound’s disease-reducing effects.
Publishing
the study in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the scientists expressed
their hope that a synthetic substitute for THC could be created and used to
fight cancer.
Dr.
Peter McCormick, from UEA’s school of Pharmacy, said “THC, the major active component of
marijuana, has anti-cancer properties. This compound is known to act through a
specific family of cell receptors called cannabinoid receptors.
“By
identifying the receptors involved we have provided an important step towards
the future development of therapeutics that can take advantage of the
interactions we have discovered to reduce tumor growth.”
However,
McCormick acknowledged the need for further testing, warning those undergoing
cancer treatment not to self-medicate using marijuana. Similar views have been
expressed by UK cancer charities, including Cancer Research UK, which told the
Independent that more research on THCs needed to be conducted before being used
as treatment.
Cannabis
remains illegal in most countries including the UK, but is used medicinally to
treat cancer and other terminal illnesses in many countries, including Germany,
Canada and Israel.
While British doctors are
not allowed to proscribe Cannabis to patients, a Cannabis-based product,
Sativex, was legalized in 2006, but is only supplied by the National Health
Service (NHS) in limited circumstances.
No comments:
Post a Comment