Effects of THC-rich Cannabis sativa extract on Biochemical Parameters in Obesity

The excessive fat accumulation is the cause of obesity that leads to systemic inflammation, compromising the functioning of the brain. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate new effective therapeutic approaches to control fat accumulation. Due to Cannabis sativa anti-inflammatory properties, the use of this plant may be a promising strategy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of THC-rich Cannabis sativa extract (CSE) on the biochemical parameters of obese mice brain. Forty-eight male Swiss mice were used; they were fed a normal-fat or high-fat diet for 10 weeks. On the eighth week of the study, those mice were paired into 4 groups: control+vehicle, control+CSE, obesity+vehicle, obesity+CSE; they received 1mL/kg/day of CSE or olive oil until the end of the study. Body weight was assessed weekly. At the end of the experiment, the mesenteric fat was removed and weighed, and the brain structures were collected for biochemical analyses. The outcome of our study demonstrated that obesity led to mitochondrial and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage, and that treatment with CSE demonstrated to be effective in reversing this damage. This outcome showed an increase in complex I activity in the hypothalamus and complex II in the prefrontal cortex, but the CSE reversed the damage caused by obesity. Furthermore, a reversion of DNA damage caused by obesity in the mice cortex was observed. It was concluded that despite the need for additional investigations, CSE can be a promising alternative for the treatment of obesity and its consequences.