CBD Mechanisms Explained

For the first time,  A University of Dundee study cannabidiol as a treatment for skin disorders, also pointing to its potential as a therapy for other diseases, including cancer. 

Although some of the more common efficacies are known, such as the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, this natural non-psychotropic cannabinoid has been tested in clinical trials for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.

​Additionally, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease has been selected for testing. This is good news for those wanting to see more hardened evidence in the face of the many claims CBD enthusiasts are making. Whether these claims are simply used as marketing tactics or are actual reports of possible treatment options is unknown. This is where clinical science comes in. 

CBD is gaining momentum throughout the United States, but there’s little clinical evidence to support the uproar of already being used to treat seizures associated with two severe forms of epilepsy.

Now a team led by Dr. Laureano de la Vega in Dundee’s School of Medicine has identified the molecular target of cannabidiol in skin cells. Dr. de la Vega said, “CBD has been promoted as a medical holy grail that supposedly can cure a vast array of conditions including anxiety, depression, inflammation, cancer, and acne. Because of this, we wanted to reveal what CBD was actually doing in the cells of our skin and use that to inform the potential use of CBD for skin conditions.

 “We, for the first time, have identified one of its mechanisms of action that can explain some of its beneficial effects on the skin.” 
What This Means for the Market
With this information, there is a basis for its use in cream-based products. It’s essential to note that although CBD-based creams might be beneficial against some skin conditions, such as Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex or to delay skin aging. However, the study also shows that CBD should be used with precaution in hyperproliferative skin disorders, such as psoriasis.
The study shows that cannabidiol targets a protein called BACH1 in skin cells. As BACH1 regulates the expression of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory genes, this new mechanism could help rationalize the potential use of CBD in some skin disorders associated with high levels of inflammation. 
Importantly, as BACH1 has emerged as a therapeutic target for lung and breast cancer, the study raises the possibility of new research focused on the potential use of CBD, or its derivatives as a cancer treatment. 
“This does not mean that CBD will cure cancer, it just means that now we have a rationale to investigate its potential in cancer research,” Dr de la Vega added.
With new clinical results being peer-reviewed and published every day, we are hopeful that new findings will shed light on just how these mechanisms work.