Only very few plants have received the divisive attention that has been dedicated to Cannabis sativa. Known by many for its recreational effects, the ethnopharmacological use of Cannabis extends well beyond the aspects associated with this specific purpose of use. Despite the obstacles posed by decades of regulatory restrictions, evidence of its pharmacological potential behind the chemistry of Cannabis continues to increase and draw more and more attention. Cannabidiol (CBD) stands at the forefront of clinical research as it is often regarded as the beneficial counterpart to the psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol ?9-THC. The controversial pair represent just the tip of the phytocannabinoid iceberg that is yet to be fully explored as it ought to be. Having been first discovered in multiple chemo/genotypes of C. sativa, hence the name, natural cannabinoids can be found in a variety of flowering plants, liverworts, and fungi. From a chemical perspective, phytocannabinoids occupy a relatively well-defined chemical space, yet their bioactivity is far from being entirely elucidated.
Early identification of human receptors targeting ?9-THC drew initial attention toward the potential of these natural meroterpenoids. The discovery of endogenous agonists of the endocannabinoid system in the brain followed shortly after, and evidence of the expression of the endocannabinoid system in the peripheral tissues and its involvement in a plethora of biological functions beyond the brain have been amassed ever since.
This Research Topic aims to discuss and showcase relevant contributions to the study of cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system from a pharmacologically relevant perspective. Studies focused on overcoming challenges associated with the development and analysis of CBD-containing formulations, supplements and cosmetics are also welcome.
With this collection, we welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Systematic Review, Critical reviews, Methods, Policy and Practice Reviews, Clinical Trial, Data Report, General Commentary, and Opinion articles that relate to the following topics, including but not but limited to:
• CBD and other phytocannabinoids.
• Phytochemical and pharmacological studies of C. Sativa including chemotypes, genotypes, and multiple varieties.
• Alternative sources of cannabinoids.
• Relationship studies analyzing analytical, stability, and structure-activity related aspects.
• Regulatory perspectives and challenges associated with Cannabis-related policies.
• Biological targets and activities of natural and synthetic cannabinoids.
• Endocannabinoid system.
• Drugs and cosmetic formulations containing cannabinoids.
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All the manuscripts submitted to the collection will need to fully comply with the
Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology (you can freely download the full version
here).
