"Investigating the Antidepressant Action of Cannabidiol"

Abstract

Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychotomimetic component of Cannabis sativa plant, has shown therapeutic potential in neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression. CBD’s antidepressant action is not sufficiently understood, while the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In parallel, current antidepressant drugs are linked with undesirable effects, and the fast-acting antidepressants maintain considerable limitations in their use.

This study focuses on the further characterization of CBD’s antidepressant properties, while aiming to provide novel strategies for the exploitation CBD’s unique features regarding its complex pharmacodynamic features, and its safe side-effects profile. To this end CBD’s antidepressant effects, its potential synergy with a serotonin, a classical selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, and ketamine, the only approved fast-acting antidepressant, were studied using the forced swim test in rats. CBD displayed antidepressant effect in 10-fold lower doses as compared with the previously described ones. Additionally, CBD demonstrated a synergistic effect with fluoxetine, but failed to do the same with ketamine. Moreover, CBD’s anxiolytic potential was confirmed in the same dosage scale, using center entries in the open field test and the elevated plus maze test.

In conclusion, our findings support that CBD displays antidepressant and anxiolytic effects, including the fast-acting antidepressant action. More specifically, this study indicates that CBD could be used as a potential medication for mood/affective disorders, and provides insights concerning CBD’s complex pharmacological properties. However, CBD’s beneficial dose range remains to be fully dissected, while the neurobiological underpinnings of its actions need to be addressed.

BRAKATSELOS Charis