The Anticonvulsant Effects of Different Cannabis Extracts in a Zebrafish Model of Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a widespread neurological disorder that remains a critical global public health challenge. While numerous antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are available, many patients either fail to achieve adequate seizure control or experience significant side effects. One promising alternative is pure cann...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/5/654 |
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| author | Karen Jackson Maytal Shabat-Simon Jonathan Bar-On Rafi Steckler Soliman Khatib Snait Tamir Paula Adriana Pitashny |
| author_facet | Karen Jackson Maytal Shabat-Simon Jonathan Bar-On Rafi Steckler Soliman Khatib Snait Tamir Paula Adriana Pitashny |
| author_sort | Karen Jackson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Epilepsy is a widespread neurological disorder that remains a critical global public health challenge. While numerous antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are available, many patients either fail to achieve adequate seizure control or experience significant side effects. One promising alternative is pure cannabidiol (CBD), but using a whole cannabis extract may be equally effective and preferred for some patients. In the current study, we employed the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced hyperactivity model in zebrafish to compare the effects of CBD with various cannabis extracts. We evaluated three cannabis strains, each subjected to three different extraction methods, and benchmarked the results against the commercially available AED valproic acid (VPA). Our findings revealed that 5.7 µg/mL of CBD and 10 µg/mL of different extracts significantly reduced movement compared to PTZ and VPA. In addition, effective extracts produced effects similar to pure CBD despite containing much lower molecule levels. These results reinforced and expanded previous evidence supporting the clinical potential of both CBD and whole cannabis extracts for seizure control while suggesting a possible entourage effect. Further research is necessary to determine which patients may benefit more from pure CBD versus those who might prefer whole cannabis extracts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4402a95ecfd3415e8eeaf3bae4bc2318 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2218-273X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj-art-4402a95ecfd3415e8eeaf3bae4bc23182025-08-20T01:56:17ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2025-05-0115565410.3390/biom15050654The Anticonvulsant Effects of Different Cannabis Extracts in a Zebrafish Model of EpilepsyKaren Jackson0Maytal Shabat-Simon1Jonathan Bar-On2Rafi Steckler3Soliman Khatib4Snait Tamir5Paula Adriana Pitashny6Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Tel-Hai College, Tel-Hai 1220800, IsraelFaculty of Sciences and Technology, Tel-Hai College, Tel-Hai 1220800, IsraelFaculty of Sciences and Technology, Tel-Hai College, Tel-Hai 1220800, IsraelFaculty of Sciences and Technology, Tel-Hai College, Tel-Hai 1220800, IsraelFaculty of Sciences and Technology, Tel-Hai College, Tel-Hai 1220800, IsraelFaculty of Sciences and Technology, Tel-Hai College, Tel-Hai 1220800, IsraelFaculty of Sciences and Technology, Tel-Hai College, Tel-Hai 1220800, IsraelEpilepsy is a widespread neurological disorder that remains a critical global public health challenge. While numerous antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are available, many patients either fail to achieve adequate seizure control or experience significant side effects. One promising alternative is pure cannabidiol (CBD), but using a whole cannabis extract may be equally effective and preferred for some patients. In the current study, we employed the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced hyperactivity model in zebrafish to compare the effects of CBD with various cannabis extracts. We evaluated three cannabis strains, each subjected to three different extraction methods, and benchmarked the results against the commercially available AED valproic acid (VPA). Our findings revealed that 5.7 µg/mL of CBD and 10 µg/mL of different extracts significantly reduced movement compared to PTZ and VPA. In addition, effective extracts produced effects similar to pure CBD despite containing much lower molecule levels. These results reinforced and expanded previous evidence supporting the clinical potential of both CBD and whole cannabis extracts for seizure control while suggesting a possible entourage effect. Further research is necessary to determine which patients may benefit more from pure CBD versus those who might prefer whole cannabis extracts.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/5/654epilepsyzebrafishcannabis extractsCBDentourage effect |
| spellingShingle | Karen Jackson Maytal Shabat-Simon Jonathan Bar-On Rafi Steckler Soliman Khatib Snait Tamir Paula Adriana Pitashny The Anticonvulsant Effects of Different Cannabis Extracts in a Zebrafish Model of Epilepsy Biomolecules epilepsy zebrafish cannabis extracts CBD entourage effect |
| title | The Anticonvulsant Effects of Different Cannabis Extracts in a Zebrafish Model of Epilepsy |
| title_full | The Anticonvulsant Effects of Different Cannabis Extracts in a Zebrafish Model of Epilepsy |
| title_fullStr | The Anticonvulsant Effects of Different Cannabis Extracts in a Zebrafish Model of Epilepsy |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Anticonvulsant Effects of Different Cannabis Extracts in a Zebrafish Model of Epilepsy |
| title_short | The Anticonvulsant Effects of Different Cannabis Extracts in a Zebrafish Model of Epilepsy |
| title_sort | anticonvulsant effects of different cannabis extracts in a zebrafish model of epilepsy |
| topic | epilepsy zebrafish cannabis extracts CBD entourage effect |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/5/654 |
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