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Avidekel Cannabis extracts and cannabidiol are as efficient as Copaxone in suppressing EAE in SJL/J mice

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Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease leading to the destruction of myelin with consequent axonal degeneration and severe physical debilitation. The disease can be treated with immunosuppressive drugs that alleviate the symptoms and retard disease aggravation. One such drug in clinical use is glatiramer acetate (Copaxone). The non-psychotropic immunosuppressive cannabinoid compound cannabidiol (CBD) has recently been shown to have beneficial effects on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The aim of our study was to compare the efficacy of CBD and standardized extracts from a CBD-rich, ∆9-THClowCannabis indica subspecies (Avidekel) with that of Copaxone. Our data show that CBD and purified Avidekel extracts are as efficient as Copaxone to alleviate the symptoms of proteolipid protein (PLP)-induced EAE in SJL/J mice. No synergistic effect was observed by combining CBD or Avidekel extracts with Copaxone. Our data support the use of Avidekel extracts in the treatment of MS symptoms.

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Abbreviations

CBD:

Cannabidiol

CNS:

Central nervous system

EAE:

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

MS:

Multiple sclerosis

PLP:

Proteolipid protein

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Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank Dr. Ronit Sionov for her valuable editorial assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Lautenberg Center for General and Tumor Immunology, The Hadassah Medical School, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

    Ruth Gallily & Zhannah Yekhtin

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  1. Ruth Gallily
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  2. Zhannah Yekhtin
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Correspondence to Ruth Gallily.

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Gallily, R., Yekhtin, Z. Avidekel Cannabis extracts and cannabidiol are as efficient as Copaxone in suppressing EAE in SJL/J mice. Inflammopharmacol 27, 167–173 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-018-0536-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-018-0536-3

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