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Antiestrogenic effects of marijuana smoke condensate and cannabinoid compounds

Archives of Pharmacal Research volume 28, pages 1365–1375 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

The antiestrogenic effects of marijuana smoke condensate (MSC) and three major cannab-inoids, i.e., Δ9-Metrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabinol (CBN), were evaluated usingin vitro bioassays,viz., the human breast cancer cell proliferation assay, the recombinant human estrogen receptor (ER) competitive binding assay, and the reporter gene assay. The inhibitory effects on estrogen were also examined using the ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) assay, the aromatase assay, and the 17β-estradiol (E2) metabolism assay. The results showed that MSC induced the antiestrogenic effectvia the ER-mediated pathway, while THC, CBD, and CBN did not have any antiestrogenic activity. This suggests that the combined effects of the marijuana smoke components are responsible for the antiestrogenicity of marijuana use. In addition, MSC induced the CYP1A activity and the E2 metabolism, but inhibited the aromatase activity, suggesting that the antiestrogenic activity of MSC is also related to the indirect ER-dependent pathway, as a result of the depletion of thein situ E2 level available to bind to the ER. In conclusion, pyrogenic products including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the non-polar fraction, which is the most biologically active fraction among the seven fractions of MSC, might be responsible for the antiestrogenic effect.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Scientific Investigation, 158-707, Seoul, Korea

    Soo Yeun Lee & Sang Ki Lee

  2. College of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, 440-746, Suwon, Korea

    Soo Yeun Lee, Seung Min Oh & Kyu Hyuck Chung

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  1. Soo Yeun Lee
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  2. Seung Min Oh
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Correspondence to Kyu Hyuck Chung.

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Lee, S.Y., Oh, S.M., Lee, S.K. et al. Antiestrogenic effects of marijuana smoke condensate and cannabinoid compounds. Arch Pharm Res 28, 1365–1375 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02977903

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