The effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Cannabis Sativa on appetite hormone in rat
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Mohsen Mazidi
Abstract
Background: Ghrelin is an orexigenic peptide which is secreted from stomach. Cannabis sativa is known as an orexigenic herb in Iranian traditional medicine. Little evidence is published about its effect on energy intake and its mechanism. In the current study, the possible effect of hydroalcoholic extract of C. sativa on appetite and ghrelin is evaluated.
Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups. Two control groups were selected, the first group received 0.5 mL water per day (vehicle group) and another group did not receive anything (control group). The other three groups were treated daily with 50, 100 or 150 mg/kg of C. sativa for 7 days, respectively. Daily energy intake of the rats was calculated for 10 days prior to the> intervention and for the 7 day intervention. To investigate changes in plasma ghrelin as a potential mechanism, an orexigenic dose (150 mg/kg) of C. sativa or distilled water (vehicle) was fed to two separate groups of six rats by gavage. Total ghrelin levels in plasma were measured for 3 h post-gavage.
Results: There was no significant difference in energy intake between control and vehicle groups. Treatment with 100 and 150 mg/kg of the extract significantly increased energy intake vs the other groups (p<0.05). Total ghrelin levels were significantly elevated in the C. sativa group vs vehicle 30 and 60 min post-gavage.
Conclusions: This study showed that C. sativa had both positive and dose-related effects on appetite of rats. Future studies are warranted to evaluate the orexigenic effect of this plant in human.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by MUMS and Iran National Science Foundation. This paper is part of MSc thesis of Maryam Kamgar’s (A-320, 1390).
Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
Research funding: None declared.
Employment or leadership: None declared.
Honorarium: None declared.
Competing interests: The funding organization(s) played no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the report for publication.
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©2014 by De Gruyter
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Review
- Phytodentistry: use of medicinal plants
- Preclinical Studies
- The effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Cannabis Sativa on appetite hormone in rat
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- A study to investigate the biological activity of proteoglycan mixture extract from Convolvulus arvensis
- Some biochemical and haematological changes in rats pretreated with aqueous stem bark extract of Lophira lanceolata and intoxicated with paracetamol (acetaminophen)
- Clinical Studies
- Tai Chi and meditation-plus-exercise benefit neural substrates of executive function: a cross-sectional, controlled study
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Review
- Phytodentistry: use of medicinal plants
- Preclinical Studies
- The effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Cannabis Sativa on appetite hormone in rat
- Hypolipidaemic and haematological evaluation of the hydromethanolic extract of Ficus glumosa stem bark in alloxan-induced diabetic rats
- A study to investigate the biological activity of proteoglycan mixture extract from Convolvulus arvensis
- Some biochemical and haematological changes in rats pretreated with aqueous stem bark extract of Lophira lanceolata and intoxicated with paracetamol (acetaminophen)
- Clinical Studies
- Tai Chi and meditation-plus-exercise benefit neural substrates of executive function: a cross-sectional, controlled study
- A preliminary comparison of primary care use by refugees before and after acupuncture
- Practices and attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine in inflammatory bowel disease: a survey of gastroenterologists
