New study, published online in the British Journal of Pharmacology, shows that chemicals in cannabis have the potential to stop harmful DNA activity that underlies diseases like skin cancer and allergies.
Certain genetic factors are believed to play a role in the uncontrollable growth of skin cells but a class of chemicals produced by cannabis called cannabinoids appears to have an unique ability of switching them off.
In the study, researchers recorded the effects of three cannabinoids on human skin cell lines: cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabidivarin (CBV).
CBD was found to be the most effective at targeting unwanted DNA activity, followed by CBG, While THC has also been suggested as an effective therapy for skin allergies.
The authors conclude that the potential to switch off gene activity may "extend well-beyond skin disorders" to diseases like multiple sclerosis and other forms of cancer.
Study: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.12309/abstract
