Scientists consider the use of cannabis for the treatment of ovarian cancer
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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A group of American researchers made an unexpected discovery: it turned out that the constituent components of hemp plant can be effectively used to treat cancerous tumors in the ovaries, as well as to prevent metastasis.
Hemp is considered one of the oldest plants that were used for cultivation: man has known her for more than seven thousand years. Hemp raw materials were actively used for making fabrics, rope, canvas, etc. However, since the beginning of the 20th century, plant cultivation has been limited, for a number of reasons. To date, American medicine has begun to seriously consider restoring the use of cannabis for medical purposes.
Specialists from the University of Sullivan (Louisville) began to study the anti-cancer plant properties.
The study involved a variety of cannabis cultivated in Kentucky - this is the Ky hemp variety, which is capable of providing the highest level of medicinal components, and grows in ecologically clean regions.
Already during the first experiment, scientists injected hemp extract into the laboratory material of tumor cells. By results, this extract reduced the migration properties of cellular structures. Similar experiments were previously put on cannabidiol, but scientists learned about the effect of migratory inhibition for the first time. Experts expressed the hope that hemp extracts will soon be introduced into the anti-metastatic regimen for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
"The important information we got is this: a hemp plant belonging to the Ky hemp variety has a pronounced antimetastatic effect, at least in relation to a tumor such as ovarian cancer," the scientists say.
The following experiment was aimed at studying the preventive abilities of the plant extract. It was found that hemp potentiates the production of an immunoprotein interleukin-1, which prevents the development of malignant process.
"According to preliminary results, preparations based on cannabis of this kind inhibit the growth and spread of a cancerous tumor in the ovaries. With this, the effect of such drugs is expected to be greater than from the known and widely used anticancer agent Cisplatin, "explains one of the authors of the project.
A major disadvantage of Cisplatin is its considerable toxicity. Cannabis products are expected to have fewer side effects.
Scientists continue to work on this issue: soon there will be clinical trials involving oncological patients.
The results were reported in detail at the regular conference of the American Biochemical and Microbiological Society (California, San Diego), which is indicated on the Internet pages of the University of Sullivan (Sullivan.edu).
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