Clinical/Therapeutic Approaches for Cannabinoid Ligands in Central and Peripheral Nervous System Diseases: Mini Review

Objective Cannabinoids, the components of Cannabis sativa Linnaeus, interact with CB1 and CB2 receptors, which are located both in the central nervous system and in the periphery and thus may exert a widespread biological activity in the body. The main medicinal properties of cannabinoids include analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, appetite stimulation, antiemesis, and muscle relaxation effects. This mini review aims to explore existing clinical trials that investigated the use of cannabinoids in diseases affecting the nervous system. Methods We reviewed recent studies of cannabinoid-based therapy for disorders affecting central and peripheral nervous system in human subjects. Results There is evidence that cannabinoid-based drugs may effectively control some symptoms associated with nervous system dysfunction, especially various types of pain and neurologic disorders, although studies are limited. Conclusions The efficacy of cannabinoid drugs in the treatment of nervous system diseases should be verified in future large-scale randomized clinical trials.