Effects of combined cannabidiol (CBD) and hops (Humulus lupulus) terpene extract treatment on RAW 264.7 macrophage viability and inflammatory markers

• Published in: Natural products and bioprospecting Vol. 13; no. 1; p. 19
• Main Authors: Dammann, Inga, Keil, Claudia, Hardewig, Iris, Skrzydlewska, Elżbieta, Biernacki, Michał, Haase, Hajo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Nature Singapore 01.12.2023; Springer Nature B.V; SpringerOpen
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Bioorganic Chemistry; Cannabidiol; Cannabinoids; Cannabis; CBD; Entourage effect; Food Science; Hops; Humulus lupulus; Hydrocortisone; Inflammation; Inflammatory diseases; Life Sciences; Lipopolysaccharides; Macrophages; Medicinal Chemistry; Nitric oxide; Original; Original Article; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Plant Biochemistry; Plant Sciences; Terpenes; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Cannabinoids; Entourage effect; Inflammation; CBD; Terpenes
• ISSN: 2192-2195; 2192-2209
• DOI: 10.1007/s13659-023-00382-3

This study investigates the potential of cannabidiol (CBD), one major cannabinoid of the plant Cannabis sativa , alone and in combination with a terpene-enriched extract from Humulus lupulus (“Hops 1”), on the LPS-response of RAW 264.7 macrophages as an established in vitro model of inflammation. With the present study, we could support earlier findings of the anti-inflammatory potential of CBD, which showed a dose-dependent [0–5 µM] reduction in nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) released by LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Moreover, we observed an additive anti-inflammatory effect after combined CBD [5 µM] and hops extract [40 µg/mL] treatment. The combination of CBD and Hops 1 showed effects in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells superior to the single substance treatments and akin to the control hydrocortisone. Furthermore, cellular CBD uptake increased dose-dependently in the presence of terpenes from Hops 1 extract. The anti-inflammatory effect of CBD and its cellular uptake positively correlated with terpene concentration, as indicated by comparison with a hemp extract containing both CBD and terpenes. These findings may contribute to the postulations for the so-called “entourage effect” between cannabinoids and terpenes and support the potential of CBD combined with phytomolecules from a non-cannabinoid source, such as hops, for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.