The endocannabinoid system: role in energy regulation
Thomas F Gamage, Aron H Lichtman, Thomas F Gamage, Aron H Lichtman
Abstract
Cannabis sativa has been used since antiquity to treat many ailments, including eating disorders. The primary psychoactive constituent of this plant, Δ(9) -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is an FDA approved medication to treat nausea and emesis caused by cancer chemotherapeutic agents as well as to stimulate appetite in AIDS patients suffering from cachexia. The effects of THC are mediated through the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which promotes a positive energy balance through stimulation of appetite as well as shifting homeostatic mechanisms toward energy storage. Here we discuss the physiological function of the ECS in energy balance and the therapeutic potential of targeting this system.
Conflict of interest statement
Conflicts of Interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest.
Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Source: PubMed