Hadar Peeri
Hinanit Koltai
Cannabis sativa produces hundreds of secondary metabolites, including phytocannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Among the 160 phytocannabinoids identified in C. sativa, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabigerol (CBG) are highly abundant. CBG is abundant mostly in young cannabis plants. When the plant is maturing, most of the CBG is turning into THC/CBD. Cannabis is used worldwide to treat various medical conditions, mostly as palliative care to chronic pain or cancer patients. Yet, numerous studies demonstrated therapeutic properties for cannabis compounds that are mediated by interaction with the endocannabinoid receptors and activation of multiple signaling pathways associated with, e.g., programmed cell death. Phytocannabinoids were shown to have cytotoxic, antiproliferative, and antimigratory effect on cancer cells. These compounds have also cytotoxic activity against cancer stem cells. Moreover, it was demonstrated that certain combinations of phytocannabinoids act synergistically against cancer cells with greater effects than each molecule alone. This chapter presents the therapeutic potential of cannabis compounds in exerting effects on cancer cells, focusing mainly on glioma and glioblastoma stem cells.
