The therapeutic effect of the oily extract of Cannabis sp. in Aluminum Chloride-Induced Alzheimer's Disease in Rats

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic potential of Cannabis sp extract in a model of Alzheimer's disease induced by aluminum chloride in rats. Methods: Thirty Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n=6) where one group received no treatment, another group received only aluminum chloride and the others, in addition to aluminum chloride, received different doses (50, 100 and 150µl) of oily extract of Cannabis sp. The animals were euthanized one day after treatment, where the brain was collected, fixed, processed and embedded in paraffin. Histological sections of the hippocampus were used for qualitative and quantitative assessment of morphological changes. Blood serum was also obtained to determine indicators of oxidative status. Results: Reduction of more than 80% in cell death in the dentate gyrus region of the hippocampus in animals treated with cannabis extract. Furthermore, a reduction in total protein levels by approximately 20% and an increase (15%) in antioxidant enzymes in relation to the positive control were also observed in the serum. Conclusion: The use of the oily extract of Cannabis sp. in a 2:1 ratio of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC): Cannabidiol (CBD) effectively reduced hippocampal neuron deaths from amyloidosis induced in chronic aluminum chloride intoxication.