Bellatrix

Cannabis Ingredient Could Fight Cancer, Claim Researchers

15/09/04 | John von Radowitz | The Irish Examiner


CANNABIS could provide an unlikely new weapon in the fight against cancer, new research suggested yesterday.

Scientists have discovered the chemical in the drug which gets users 'high' combats cancer-causing viruses. Experiments show the active cannabis ingredient tetrahydrocannibol (THC) can prevent the activation and replication of gamma herpes viruses.

Two of these viruses, Kaposis Sarcoma Associated Herpes virus and Epstein- Barr virus, predispose infected individuals to the cancers Kaposis sarcoma, Burkitt's lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease.

Gamma herpes viruses are different from the herpes simplex viruses responsible for cold sores and genital herpes.

Kaposis sarcoma is especially prevalent among Aids sufferers and is now the most common form of cancer in Africa.

Once infected, it is almost impossible to get rid of the viruses as they lie dormant for long periods within white blood cells.

The dormant viruses can reactivate, replicating themselves and bursting out of the cells to spread between individuals and cause illness.

Scientists at the University of South Florida in the United States found reactivation was prevented if infected cells were grown in the presence of THC.

; folks, this is an article about a study that was conducted in the United States - the article originated from an Irish newspaper. Has this appeared in the North American news? I'm sure if the study had been negative we would have seen it, widely replicated in various news outlets.

Cells infected with a mouse gamma herpes virus normally died when the virus reactivated. But they survived when cultured with the cannabinoid compound.

Writing in the online journal BMC Medicine, the scientists showed that THC acted specifically on gamma herpes viruses. It was unable to prevent the reactivation of the cold sore virus herpes simplex-1.

Team leader Dr Peter Medveczky and his fellow researchers wrote: "We believe that studies on cannabinoids and herpes viruses are important to continue because there are obvious benefits. Better understanding may lead to the development of specific non-psychoactive drugs that may inhibit reactivation of cancer-causing herpes viruses."

Bellatrix; ahhhh, the frightened fool gives away the most sinister of the motives behind the suppression of cannabis - it must be kept away from the masses because it expands their minds. *gasp*

Dr Medveczky pointed out that THC could also suppress the immune system and patients infected with these viruses often had weakened immune systems already.

Whether or not the beneficial effects of THC outweighed this hazard was yet to be tested in mice.

"We have not evaluated the effect of THC in an animal model yet. Therefore, our findings do not recommend that people take pot to prevent or treat cancers associated with gamma herpes viruses." he said.

Bellatrix; yup; an American study all right. I bet they lose their funding anyways.

Dr Medveczky believes THC targets a viral gene shared by gamma herpes viruses called ORF50.

By preventing activation of this gene, the compound is thought to block viral replication.

__________________

Marijuana.com Community Posting Guidelines
Marijuana.com Article Submission Guidelines

FREE MARC EMERY