Neuroprotective Properties of Cannabinoids in Cellular and Animal Models: Hypotheses and Facts

Abstract

Progressive neuronal loss is a typical characteristic of neurodegenerative diseases.In Parkinson's disease, the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia resultsin impaired mobility and flawed muscle control. The loss of cholinergic neuronslargely in the basal forebrain contributes to memory and attention deficits and theoverall cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease. This being said, neuroprotec-tive drugs should be expected to preserve and/or restore the functions affected byneuronal loss, and substantially prevent cell death. The endocannabinoid system,comprising lipid mediators able to bind to and activate cannabinoid receptors,has emerged as a therapeutic target of potential interest in a variety of centralnervous system diseases. Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is one of the most impor-tant endocannabinoids, which has a key role in modulating oxidative stress andinflammatory response with neuroprotective potential in neurological disorders.Neurodegenerative diseases undergo varied, progressive stages. The current thera-peutical approaches are beginning to fall short when it comes to meet the expectedresults, urging to either develop or identify or develop new effective treatments. Thischapter discusses the neuroprotective potential of new drugs, aiming to shed somelight on their proposed mechanism of action and their effect in cellular and animalmodels of neurodegeneration.