THCA Interaction with Additional Compounds in Cannabis sativa extracts regulate apoptotic and proliferative gene expression and shows anti-inflammatory effect in human colon models

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is accounting for 10% to 15% of all-cause mortality in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), principally resulting from the pro-neoplastic effects of chronic intestinal inflammation.

Cannabis sativa was shown to have anti-inflammatory effect on IBD patients. Yet, it is not fully characterized what compounds and combinations among the hundreds of compounds from C. sativa are responsible to this beneficial influence. Our aim is to specify the anti-inflammatory effect of C. sativa-derived extracts on colon cancer cell lines and biopsies from IBD patients by identification of active compound(s) and characterization of their interaction. Ethanol extracts of C. sativa were analyzed by HPLC and GC/MS and their anti-inflammatory activity on colon cells and tissues was determined using Human IL-8 ELISA kit. Fraction 7, a fraction of C. sativa extract, which contains mainly Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) was shown by us previously to reduce IL-8 levels in colon cells and in colon tissues from IBD patients. In addition, when treated with Fraction 7, HCT116 cells and IBD biopsies showed significant changes in the expression of genes that are involved in cancer development and apoptosis. Together, the results suggest that treatment with F7 poses an anti-inflammatory effect that may enhance protection of inflamed colon tissue and reduce risks for cancer development.