Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Properties of the Cannabis Terpene Myrcene in Rat Adjuvant Monoarthritis
<i>Cannabis</i>-based terpenes are believed to modulate physiological responses to disease and alter the efficacy of cannabinoids in the so-called “entourage effect”. The monoterpene myrcene can reduce nociception produced by noxious thermal and mechanical stimuli as well as reducing acu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/14/7891 |
| _version_ | 1797446475511234560 |
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| author | Jason J. McDougall Meagan K. McKenna |
| author_facet | Jason J. McDougall Meagan K. McKenna |
| author_sort | Jason J. McDougall |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Cannabis</i>-based terpenes are believed to modulate physiological responses to disease and alter the efficacy of cannabinoids in the so-called “entourage effect”. The monoterpene myrcene can reduce nociception produced by noxious thermal and mechanical stimuli as well as reducing acute inflammation. The current study examined the role of myrcene and cannabidiol (CBD) in controlling chronic joint inflammation and pain. Chronic arthritis was induced in male Wistar rats by intra-articular injection of Freund’s complete adjuvant into the right knee. On days 7 and 21 after arthritis induction, joint pain (von Frey hair algesiometry), inflammation (intravital microscopy, laser speckle contrast analysis) and joint histopathology were assessed. Local application of myrcene (1 and 5 mg/kg s.c.) reduced joint pain and inflammation via a cannabinoid receptor mechanism. The combination of myrcene and CBD (200 μg) was not significantly different from myrcene alone. Repeated myrcene treatment had no effect on joint damage or inflammatory cytokine production. These data suggest that topical myrcene has the potential to reduce chronic arthritis pain and inflammation; however, it has no synergistic effect with CBD. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:41:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-becb4b5e1e774610bb2f289106ead938 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:41:40Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-becb4b5e1e774610bb2f289106ead9382023-11-30T21:06:36ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672022-07-012314789110.3390/ijms23147891Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Properties of the Cannabis Terpene Myrcene in Rat Adjuvant MonoarthritisJason J. McDougall0Meagan K. McKenna1Departments of Pharmacology and Anaesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University, 5850 College Street, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, CanadaDepartments of Pharmacology and Anaesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University, 5850 College Street, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada<i>Cannabis</i>-based terpenes are believed to modulate physiological responses to disease and alter the efficacy of cannabinoids in the so-called “entourage effect”. The monoterpene myrcene can reduce nociception produced by noxious thermal and mechanical stimuli as well as reducing acute inflammation. The current study examined the role of myrcene and cannabidiol (CBD) in controlling chronic joint inflammation and pain. Chronic arthritis was induced in male Wistar rats by intra-articular injection of Freund’s complete adjuvant into the right knee. On days 7 and 21 after arthritis induction, joint pain (von Frey hair algesiometry), inflammation (intravital microscopy, laser speckle contrast analysis) and joint histopathology were assessed. Local application of myrcene (1 and 5 mg/kg s.c.) reduced joint pain and inflammation via a cannabinoid receptor mechanism. The combination of myrcene and CBD (200 μg) was not significantly different from myrcene alone. Repeated myrcene treatment had no effect on joint damage or inflammatory cytokine production. These data suggest that topical myrcene has the potential to reduce chronic arthritis pain and inflammation; however, it has no synergistic effect with CBD.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/14/7891arthritiscannabisentourage effectinflammationjoint damagepain |
| spellingShingle | Jason J. McDougall Meagan K. McKenna Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Properties of the Cannabis Terpene Myrcene in Rat Adjuvant Monoarthritis International Journal of Molecular Sciences arthritis cannabis entourage effect inflammation joint damage pain |
| title | Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Properties of the Cannabis Terpene Myrcene in Rat Adjuvant Monoarthritis |
| title_full | Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Properties of the Cannabis Terpene Myrcene in Rat Adjuvant Monoarthritis |
| title_fullStr | Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Properties of the Cannabis Terpene Myrcene in Rat Adjuvant Monoarthritis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Properties of the Cannabis Terpene Myrcene in Rat Adjuvant Monoarthritis |
| title_short | Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Properties of the Cannabis Terpene Myrcene in Rat Adjuvant Monoarthritis |
| title_sort | anti inflammatory and analgesic properties of the cannabis terpene myrcene in rat adjuvant monoarthritis |
| topic | arthritis cannabis entourage effect inflammation joint damage pain |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/14/7891 |
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