Marijuana is a narcotic plant that benefits and harmful effects is still a matter of controversy. In the midst of the debate the merits of cannabis for medical, scientific research on the active ingredients of these substances continues to grow.
One of the newest is the potential for the future of marijuana as a drug that can restore the function of the human brain after injury or trauma. A small study using laboratory animals indicate that marijuana has neuroprotective effects Some research also mentions that the active ingredients in marijuana could be expected to protect the brain from neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson huntington.
The experts of the Adelson Center for Biology of Addictive Diseases at Tel Aviv University Israel tried to explore the efficacy of the main content of marijuana. They theorized that an extra dose of low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can lead to minor damage to the brain, which is actually an effort to 'pre-conditions' in anticipation of more serious damage due to various causes, such as lack of oxygen, knock, or exposure to toxins and drugs.
"In these conditions, marijuana as well as vaccines. He hurt before providing defense for traumatic injury," said Dr.. Yosef Sarne, one of the researchers.
In the journal, published in Behavioural Brain Research and Experimental Brain Research, Sarne inject THC in mice. Each rat was injected with doses of THC thousand to 10 thousand times lower than that usually found. The mice then engineered to cope with the trauma on the brain a few days later.
According to investigators, the injection of THC can stimulate biochemical processes in the brain. This process protects the brain cells and cognitive function. Rats with THC also showed better memory in tests performed 3 to 7 weeks after suffering a brain trauma. These mice also showed increased levels of chemicals neuroprotective higher than other groups.
In the laboratory tests, THC can affect signaling between cells. This prevents the cells from signaling the risk of death and stimulate growth. "We are confident in the process, the THC in marijuana, will have the same effect in humans. Nevertheless, the use of cannabis in humans remains to be investigated," said Sarne.