• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.124-132
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• 2016

In traditional medicine, Cannabis sativa L. has been used for variety of reasons. Old literatures delineate that Cannabis had been used as anesthetic and analgesic, or to reduce symptoms such as cough, paralysis and so on. Although Cannabis has a long history of medical use, it is illegal in many countries including South Korea. Controversy over decriminalization of Cannabis to allow cannabis for therapeutic use has been around for many years. In order to understand current knowledge on the therapeutic use of medical Cannabis, comprehension of cannabinoids and other constituents of Cannabis is important. Here we reviewed the pharmacological effect of Cannabis and current mandatory regulation over Cannabis in many countries to suggest necessity of research on medical Cannabis.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 1973

The constituents of Korean cannabis were studied comparatively with foreign orgins. Especially, tetrahydrocannabinol(THC), the active constituents of cannabis were analyzed by the technique of thin layer chromatography and colorimetry. The results are as follows ; (1) THC content in Korean cannabis is comparatively higher than that in foreign samples. (2) THC is contained most abundantly in male flowers, abundantly in female tops and leaves and some in barks. (3) There is a tendency that the THC content increase gradually with growth of plants, being highest during unripe nad decrease with maturity of the tops. (4) Korean cannabis contains THC, cannabinol, cannabidiol, cannabidiolic acid and other cannandiolic compounds. Distribution of chemical components of Korean cannabis, compared with those of foreign ones, is remarkably different. (5) The THC content of Spanish cannabis cultivated tentatively in Korea is similar to that of Korean cannabis.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2021.04a
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• pp.45-45
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• 2021

This study aimed to explore research on bibliometric features of cannabis by applying scientometric analysis method, and to approach experimental research evaluation based on it. A total of 30,352 articles on cannabis published since 2001 from SCOPUS were analyzed using KnowledgeMatrix Plus and VOSviewer software. Results showed differences in research activities in countries where cannabis is legalized (Canada, the United States, the Netherlands) and Asian countries where its use is illegal. Related to medical cannabis, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of studies on pain, epilepsy, seizures and brain diseases such as multiple sclerosis. In the field of basic research, the number of pharmacological studies of cannabis on the cannabinoid type 1 receptor signaling pathway and inflammation and obesity has increased significantly. Subsequent experimental studies have compared the anti-inflammatory effects of four parts of Korean cannabis such as root, stem, leaf, and bark. Consistent with the predicted results of the scientometric analysis, all parts of C. sativa showed inhibitory effects on COX-2, NO/iNOS and TNF-α expression in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. These attempts provide an experimental research approach based on scientometric assessment.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.168-171
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• 2018

Cannabis or marijuana is the most commonly used recreational drug after alcohol in the world, and usage is generally recognized as having few serious adverse effects. However, usage is restricted in South Korea. The report of ischemic stroke associated with cannabis is rare in literature. We present a case of a 47-year-old female patient with no underlying disease presenting with acute ischemic stroke after smoking cannabis in South Korea. The result for synthetic cannabinoid metabolites (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) screening was positive. Absence of other vascular risk factors and drug screening results suggest a causal role of cannabis in this ischemic stroke case. The patient eventually progressed to brain death. The underlying mechanism, clinical manifestation, and imaging findings of cannabis-related stroke will be reviewed.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.97-128
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• 2023

Objectives : This study aims to examine the efficacy and application of Cannabis according to its parts. Methods : Contents on efficacy, treatment, and application of Cannabis in Material Medica and other texts of East Asian Medicine were collected and interpreted to deduce each characteristic. Results : Cannabis was found to be applicable to various wind symptoms and wind stroke, various pain and injuries, skin diseases, blockage or leaking of urine or feces, disease related to genitalia and anus, chronic ague, women's disease related to menstruation, birth, pregnancy, and to have the effects of heightening perceptive and sensory organs, detoxification and anesthesia, stimulating hair growth, and eradicating parasites. It drives out wind-heat pathogenic qi, circulates qi and blood, which allowed it to be applied not only to blockages but to symptoms of leakage. In other words, Cannabis was used when both excess and deficiency diseases were present, the former caused by acute blockage and the latter accompanied by stagnation. Conclusions : Based on the findings of this study, future researches on the efficacy and application of Cannabis could be done more systematically. In line with recent trend of wide application of medical Cannabis, we hope for it to be more actively used in the field of East Asian Medicine based on objective evidence.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.142-157
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• 2020

Cannabis is a historical plant which has been used as a medicine in East Asia. These days, there are active debates about using cannabis in clinical field. Collecting and comparing cannabis research articles which had been published in the Opening of Japan to spot the interactions between the traditional medicine of Japan, Rangaku which was established in Edo Period and the European medicine which is transferred after Perry Expedition is academically meaningful. This study searched publications, which were listed on Open-Access databases by Dec. 11^th, 2019. We collected research articles which had been published from January 3^rd, 1867 to July 30^th, 1912 also known as Meiji era and uploaded on OpenAccess databases. Our searching databases were J-stage, CiNii (Scholarly and Academic Information Navigator), Tokyo Metropolitan Library, The National Diet Library, IRDB (Institutional Repositories DataBase) and KAKEN (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research Database). Searching keywords were cannabis, hemp and all their Japanese synonyms and available combinations. We selected final 15 studies which met every selection criteria in the 346,393 collected studies. Cannabis was prescribed in Meiji era of Japan to alleviate pain and cure the digestive, respiratory, urinary, and nervous system diseases such as indigestion, asthma, tuberculosis, gonorrhea and its complications, insomnia, and nervous prostration. Cannabis was medically used in Meiji era of Japan and the reporting and sharing of its clinical effect was published on the medical journals like present days. There were already Cannabis regulations in that era, but its medicinal use was more liberated than nowadays. It may be a chance to reconsider the current legal system, which strictly controls the use of Cannabis.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.172-175
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• 2008

Stable isotope ratio of carbon and nitrogen ($\delta^{13}C$ & $\delta^{15}N$), and $\Delta^{9}$-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) contents were measured on 37 Korean cannabis and 10 commercial grade marijuana seized in Korea. Factors influencing on the measured values and their variations were investigated. $\delta^{13}C$ value of cannabis is specified mainly by water availability. Korean cannabis showed relatively low $\delta^{13}C$ values ranging -33.29$\sim$-27.01% (mean=-31.01%), which reflect geographic conditions of Korea where is rainy, especially during summer. $\delta^{15}N$ values, which reflect individual planting conditions, were relatively high up to -0.5$\sim$18.0% (mean=6.44%). It reflects characteristics of Korean cannabis growing wild in forest or cultivated in fertile soil. Tetrahydrocannabinol is the major hallucinogenic compound of cannabis. Ethanol extracts of cannabis leaves were derivatized by N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA), and the derivatives were analyzed by GC-MS in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. THC contents of Korean cannabis ranged 0.11$\sim$4.34% (mean=1.47%), which were relatively low compared with commercial grade marijuana.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2012

Objectives : This study aims to identify temperament and characteristics of cannabis and methamphetamine abusers for elucidating psycho-biological variables related to certain substance abuse. Methods : A total of 320 patients who registered in the 'Hepatitis C cohorts study of intravenous drug users' between March 2006 and March 2010 participated in this study. Data on demographic variables were obtained and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and measures for nicotine dependence, alcohol dependence, depression and anxiety were assessed. After comparing TCI between cannabis, methamphetamine, and co-abusers, correlations between TCI and other clinical variables were examined. Results : The methamphetamine abuser group showed significantly higher scores in Novelty Seeking (NS2) and Harm Avoidance (HA3) in temperament than the cannabis abuser and co-abuser groups, whereas the cannabis abuser group had higher scores in purposefulness (SD2), congruent second nature (SD5), and self-directedness (SD) in character than the methamphetamine abuser group. In addition, temperaments and characters correlated with various psychiatric symptoms. Conclusions : We found the differences in temperament and characters among cannabis abusers, methamphetamine abusers. These findings might contribute to further understanding of mechanisms of cannabis and methamphetamine abuse.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2015

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Cannabis Fructus on exercise capacity and cognitive function in chronic hypoperfusion induced vascular dementia rat model. Methods Vascular dementia rat models were induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion through bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion (BCCAO). All rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal group; control group; CF I group (feeding Cannabis Fructus 100 mg/kg); CF II group (feeding Cannabis Fructus 300 mg/kg). In order to study the effects of oral administration of Cannabis Fructus on vascular dementia rat models, corner turn test, hole board test, radial arm maze test, passive avoidance test were taken and Acetylcholine (ACh) activity, Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, serum of Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein level were measured. Also histological findings of the liver, kidney, brain and the change of Tau immunoreactive neurons in hippocampus were observed. Results CF I and CF II showed significant improvement in corner turn test, hole board test, radial arm maze test, passive avoidance test, Acetylcholine (ACh) activity, Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, the serum of Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein level and the change of Tau immunoreactive neurons in hippocampus. CF I showed more significant effect than CF II in these tests. However in histological observations of the liver and kidney both CF I and CF II showed glomerular injury and hepatotoxicity. Conclusions These results suggest that Cannabis Fructus was helpful in improving exercise capacity and cognitive function on Chronic hypoperfusion induced Vascular Dementia rats. However Cannabis Fructus affects the liver and kidney, therefore suggest that this is an area for further study.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.51-59
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• 2023

Objectives: Despite the pharmacological potential of the roots and stems of hemp based on literatures, active research has not been conducted for a long time. Comparative experiments were conducted on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and improvement of glucose uptake using Cannabis root and stem extracts. Methods: Antioxidant contents in Cannabis root and stem extracts were examined with total phenolic, tannin, flavonoid assay. Anti-inflammatory properties were tested in lipopolysaccharides-treated RAW264.7 cells. Efficacy of Cannabis root and stem extracts on glucose uptake was investigated using fluorescent glucose analog (2-NBDG) in palmitate-treated HepG2 cells. The mechanism of action on metabolism was examined by western blot. Results: Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory efficacy were greater in stem extracts, but improvements in glucose uptake performed under various conditions were found to be greater in root extracts. It is assumed that Cannabis root extracts exhibited an improvement in glucose uptake through mechanisms such as AMP-activated protein kinase activation, not depending on general antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Conclusions: Further research is needed on the mechanisms and substances that exhibit the anti-diabetic effects of Cannabis roots and stems.