Objective(s): The object of the study is to examine the effects of Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) against oxidative stress in the blood and excretion of THC metabolites in urine of type 2 diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: The control (n=8), THC control (n=6), diabetes (n=8) and diabetes + THC (n=7) groups were created. Type 2 diabetes was induced by nicotinamide (NA, 85 mg/kg) + streptozotocin (STZ, 65 mg/kg). THC was administered intraperitoneally for seven days. The glutathione (GSH) level in erythrocytes and malondialdehyde (MDA) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities in plasma were measured. THC metabolites were analyzed in urine. Results: The results showed that the erythrocyte GSH levels were significantly increased (P<0. 05), but plasma MDA levels were non-significantly decreased in diabetes group treated with THC when compared with the diabetes group. The CAT activity was non-significantly reduced and SOD was significantly increased (P<0. 01) in the plasma of diabetes induced by THC in comparison with the diabetic group. The excretion of THC metabolites was higher in the urine of diabetes + THC rats as compared to the THC control rats. Conclusion: These findings highlight that THC treatment may attenuate slightly the oxidative stress in diabetic rats. The excretion rate of THC may vary in the type 2 diabetes mellitus status.

The effect of ABA was investigated on chlorophyll, carotenoid, anthocyanin and flavonoid content in leaves of male and female cannabis plants at flowering stage. Plants were sprayed with ABA solutions (1 and 10 mg/l) and distilled water as control. Content of chlorophyll a, b and total decreased in female plants sprayed with 1 and 10 mg/l ABA. Male plants showed a decrease in chlorophyll content only in high ABA levels (10 mg/l). ABA treatment did not affect carotenoid content in male plants but it caused the decrease of carotenoids content in female ones. Anthocyanin content decreased by treatment with 10 mg/l ABA in male plants but in females, anthocyanin content increased with ABA treatment (1 and 10 mg/l). In both of female and male plants, flavonoids A 270 on leaf increased in 1mg/l ABA but flavonoids A 330 on leaf did not change. Flavonoids A 300 increased in 1mg/l ABA in male plants and in 10 mg/l ABA in female ones. The content of  D9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) increased the treated plants with ABA. This study showed that male and female plants of cannabis respond to ABA differently. ABA can increase secondary metabolites such as anthocyanin and flavonoids and decrease primary metabolites such as chlorophyll and carotenoids.

Background and Objectives: Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a psychoactive substance that affects the central nervous system. Acetylcholinesterase enzyme, as one of the enzymes of central and peripheral nervous system, plays a role in the sympathetic and parasympathetic function. This enzyme transmits neural messages through hydrolysis of acetylcholine in the cholinergic synapses and is of great importance in memory and learning. In this study, the effect of THC was investigated on the cholinergic system in rat behaviors. Methods: In this experimental study, 10 adult male rats were used. First, the rats were anesthetized, then, two cannulas were placed in the ventricle using stereotaxic apparatus and THC was injected. The activity of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme was measured, and plus maze test was used to assess the anxiety behavior. Data were analyzed using t-student test. Results: In this study, THC reduced the activity of acetylcholinesterase enzyme, indicating memory impairment. Moreover, the percentage of time spent in the open arm and the percentage of the number of entries into the open arm increased (p<0. 05), and corticosterone levels increased, which both indicated an increase in anxiety. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that THC causes changes in memory and anxiety behaviors by impairing cholinesterase enzyme activity and neurotransmitter secretion.

Abstract: The HIV-1 virus has three important enzymes: protease, reverse transcriptase, and integrase, which are essential for its vital functions. The AIDS virus causes a significant number of deaths each year. Herbal drugs are inexpensive, have minimal side effects, and have been used for many years alongside conventional medicine. In fact, herbal medicine serves as the foundation for modern medicine. To inhibit the activity of this virus, we investigated two herbal drugs, Curcumin) CRC (and Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC (. After conducting 100 ns of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for systems involving each of these three proteins in the presence of the ligands, we analyzed the simulated systems. The results, including RMSD (Root-mean-square deviations), Rg(radius of gyration), RMSF(Root-mean-square Fluctuation), SASA(Solvent Accessible Surface Area), DSSP (Dictionary of Secondary Structure of Proteins), and g_mmpbsa, indicate that both ligands can bind to the active sites of the proteins and inhibit HIV-1 activity. These MD simulation results suggest that both CRC and THC are effective inhibitors of HIV-1.

Introduction: Hemp is considered a nutritional and narcotic plant; whole hempseed has almost 3% saturated fatty acids and 28% unsaturated fatty acids. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of hempseed on lipid profiles of male rats. Materials and Methods: After acclimatization, at the beginning of the experiment (day 0) animal feeding was stopped and after 14h fasting the animal was anesthetized by ketamine/xylazine combination and 2ml a heart sample blood was taken. The rats were fed normal diet (modified AIN-93M pellet) and 5g/Kg of hempseed powder solution (HPS 40%) via gavages daily for 30 days and at the end of experiment (day 31) blood samples were taken again. The lipid parameters were measured by enzymatic-colorimetric techniques. Results: In spite of w3, w6 unsaturated fatty acids that are highly present in hempseed, short term hempseed feeding of hempseed additive in male rats did not improve lipid profile the mean fasting serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-C levels increased, while the mean fasting HDL-C decreased. In fact, no (p<0.05) statistical significant changes were observed in levels of the above mentioned parameters. Conclusion: Obviously the Isfahanian variety of the Cannabis plant has high content of an orexigenic, narcotic component (Tetrahydrocannabinol: THC), which does not alter the lipid profiles of rats; if used over a long time it may lead to development of dyslipidemia.