Cannabis Flavonoids Act as Adjuvants for Chemotherapy Drugs: New Research Shows

A recent review that was published in Biomolecules in December 2021 has demonstrated that cannabis-derived flavonoids have activity against glioblastoma cells and may act as effective Adjuvants for conventional chemotherapy drugs.

Flavonoids are among the numerous bioactive molecules that are found in cannabis plants. They are also present in several other plants. They are responsible for the dominant hues in cannabis and other plants. For example, purple cannabis strains have been found to have a higher concentration of the flavonoids anthocyanin.

Glioblastoma is a malignant tumor that presents itself in cells of the central nervous system called astrocytes. Conventional treatment for glioblastoma (GBM) includes chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical resection of the tumor.

This review looked at studies that were published over a 10-year period (2011-2021).

The study has demonstrated that flavonoids act synergistically to support the activities of the chemotherapy drugs by modulating intracellular signaling pathways including the following:

• Apoptosis
• Proliferation
• Autophagy
• Motility
• Chemoresistance

Traditionally, flavonoids have been used as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds. This review paves way for further investigations into the therapeutic potential of this class of compounds.