Biochemical And Immunological Effects Of Cannabis Sativa In Rats And Men

Abstract

The present study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Khartoum, to study the effect of Cannabis sativa on selected biochemical, hematological and immunological parameters using laboratory animals and addict human subjects. Four experiments were conducted in 88 rats injected route with different doses of Cannabis petroleum ether extract (0.2, 0.4, 0.6 mg/g) to study the effect of cannabinoids on important hematological values, some plasma biochemical parameters, hormonal level changes and to assess the effect of Cannabis petroleum ether extract on some immunological parameters. In men plasma samples collected, were used to investigate the effect of Cannabis smoked for different periods of time on some hematological parameters, some plasma enzymes and hormones. The results revealed the following: - 1/ Haemoglobin concentration was not affected by Cannabis extract injection in rats (experiment 1) or in addict men. 2/ Blood erythrocyte (RBC) count revealed significant decreases in the groups of rats dosed with (0.2 and 0.6 mg of Cannabis exxtract), whereas no changes in addict men groups were observed. 3/ Total Leukocyte (TWBC) count decreased in the treated rats and reached a significant level in group (D) injected with extract at (0.6 mg./gm), whereas men showing no significant changes. 4/ Differential WBC count of showed that: - Neutrophil values were decreased in all treated rats and men, with significant level in rat groups. - Blood eosinophils values changed in all groups of treated rats with significant increases in all groups, but significant decreases in groups (2) and (4) in addict men groups - Blood monocyte values, were decreased in group (B) and increased in group (D), but change was not significant. All men groups showed significantly sharp decreases in monocytes counts. - Blood lymphocyte values were elevated in all treated rat groups, with higher average level in group (D) treated with high extract concentration (0.6 mg/g). Also an increase in lymphocyte values was observed in addict men groups following the increase in addiction period, with very high level in group (4). 5/ Plasma enzyme activity in rat group (experiment 2) and addict men: - Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity showed fluctuating pattern in treated rat groups, but gradual and slight increases in addicted men groups were non-significant. - Alanine aminotransferase (ALT,GPT) activity showed remarkable increase after the second dose and reached high significant level in group (d), after the last dose it returned to the control level, however, significantly low level was reported in addicted men groups. - Glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) activity revealed elevation after the second dose, but after the last dose it decreased to significant level in groups (C) and (D). All addicted men groups showed significantly decreased activity. 6/ Plasma glucose concentration in experiment (2) showed significant increases for all treated rat group, after the second and last dose. 7/ Plasma urea concentration showed high significant average for group (D) after the second dose, whereas after the last dose all treated rat groups showed normal level (experiment 2). 8/ Plasma total protein concentration showed non-significant and slight changes in all treated rat groups (experiment 2). 9/ Hormone measurements in experiment (3) for rats group and addicted human was as follows: - Luteinizing hormone (LH) level showed fluctuating manner after last dose group (D) showed sharp significant rise. - Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level showed a significant decrease in level for groups B and D after second dose, after last dose showed fluctuating manner. - Testosterone hormone concentration after second dose showed a gradual decrease, until reached a significant decrease for group (D). After the last dose the level of the hormone showed fluctuating manner. - LH hormone, FSH and testosterone hormone levels showed slight change, for all addicted men groups. 10/ Treated rat groups in experiment (4) showed slight hypersensitivity to tuberculin (Mantoux test) with slight increase at the site of injection. Antibodies production was not affected by the treatment of Cannabis extract as first antigen.