Aarhus University Seal

Cannabidiol from the cannabis plant works against depression

A team of researchers from Aarhus University and the University of São Paulo have demonstrated that the compound cannabidiol from the cannabis plant works effectively against depression in rats and mice. Professor Gregers Wegener predicts great potential for the compound – perhaps already within the next five years.

The cannabis component cannabidiol (CBD) reduces the symptoms of depression in rats and mice. And the treatment also works quickly and is long-lasting.

This is one of the results from a study which Professor Gregers Wegener from the Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, and Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov, is behind together with Professor Sâmia Joca from the University of São Paulo in Brazil.

Even though the compound CBD comes from the cannabis plant, patients do not become either dependent or stoned by it. Cannabis consists of approximately 600 different components, of which the THC compound is the one that has an euphoriant effect.  

"Our most important finding is that just a single dose of pure CBD is very effective in animals suffering from depression. It removes the symptoms already on the same day, and then the beneficial effect of the compound lasts for a whole week," says Gregers Wegener.

This is the first major animal study of what specifically happens in the brain and central nervous system in connection with depression when it is treated with CBD. The study has been published in the scientific journal Molecular Neurobiology.

The study shows, among other things, that rats and mice with depressive-like behaviour that were treated with an CBD injection get more contact points between the nerve cells in the brain and become healthy. The study also points out the importance of specific molecular systems in the brain which are important for this particular development.

Today’s medicine is ineffective

It normally takes three to four weeks before the standard medicine for depression works. Fifty per cent of patients do not become fully cured, even though they experience an improvement, and the medicine does not work at all for thirty per cent of patients.

In addition, the drugs ordinarily used lead to a range of serious side effects including e.g. reduced libido and anxiety.

"Existing antidepressant medicine is not good enough, so there is a real need for new ways of thinking. And here the answer could be CBD," says the professor, adding that it does not appear that CBD has any particular side effects which people should be aware of.

The research continues

Trials in humans have already started at the Brazilian partner university, but for that treatment to be approved and ordinarily prescribed in Europe, additional studies are required, meaning the timeframe is at least five years.

"We need to do more basic research to find out precisely how CBD works in the brain, and we must show how effective it is here. We also need to further investigate when the compound can stand alone as a treatment, and when it needs to be taken as a supplement to ordinary antidepressant medicine," he says.

Gregers Wegener has received DKK 2.5 million from the Danish Council for Independent Research to delve further into the topic, and he also has a number of additional applications underway.

The research results – more information

  • The study is a preclinical study.
  • External partner: Professor Sâmia Joca, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo.
  • The research project's external financing: The Research Foundation of the State of São Paulo, The National Council of Science and Technology, Brazil; The Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel and Aarhus University Research Foundation.
  • The research project has no issues with external funding or conflicts of interest.
  • Direct link to the scientific article: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs12035-018-1143-4

 

Contact

MD, PhD, DMSc, Professor, Gregers Wegener
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine and
Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov
Direct tel.: (+45) 7847 1112
Mobile: (+45) 5171 7403
Email: wegener@clin.au.dk