Investigation of Cannabidiol's Protective Effects on Cadmium-Induced Toxicity in Mice

Abstract

Current chelation treatments used for cadmium poisoning may cause some serious side effects. Thus, safer novel treatments could be promising for clinical use. This study evaluated the effects of cannabidiol on Cd toxicity. Four groups of 10 mice were formed: Groups I and III were cadmium-free, while groups II and IV received 50 mg/L cadmium in drinking water. Groups III and IV received daily cannabidiol (25 mg/kg) via intragastric gavage. After 30 days, the animals were killed, and blood and tissue samples were collected. Oxidative stress and inflammation markers, including glutathione, catalase, myeloperoxidase, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, were analysed using ELISA. Additionally, histological evaluations of the liver, kidney and testis were performed. Cadmium exposure reduced glutathione and catalase levels in the blood, liver, kidney and testis, while increasing myeloperoxidase. Cannabidiol mitigated these effects on oxidative stress markers. Cannabidiol also reduced the increase in proinflammatory cytokines. Histopathological analysis revealed reduced liver and kidney damage in cannabidiol-treated groups compared to cadmium-only groups. In addition, histopathological evaluation showed CBD had no protective effect on the testicular tissue against Cd toxicity. Our results indicate that cannabidiol protects against some toxic effects of cadmium. If confirmed by future studies, cannabidiol may be proposed as a novel treatment for cadmium toxicity.