The pharmacology and therapeutic role of cannabidiol in diabetes

Abstract

In recent years, cannabidiol (CBD), a non‐psychotropic cannabinoid, has garnered substantial interest in drug development due to its broad pharmacological activity and multi‐target effects. Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease that can damage multiple organs in the body, leading to the development of complications such as abnormal kidney function, vision loss, neuropathy, and cardiovascular disease. CBD has demonstrated significant therapeutic potential in treating diabetes mellitus and its complications owing to its various pharmacological effects. This work summarizes the role of CBD in diabetes and its impact on complications such as cardiovascular dysfunction, nephropathy, retinopathy, and neuropathy. Strategies for discovering molecular targets for CBD in the treatment of diabetes and its complications are also proposed. Moreover, ways to optimize the structure of CBD based on known targets to generate new CBD analogues are explored.

Abstract

Schematic illustration of the therapeutic role and drug development of cannabidiol (CBD) for diabetes. This article comprehensively summarizes the pharmacology and therapeutic role of CBD for diabetes and its complications. Furthermore, the strategies for identifying molecular targets of CBD and developing CBD analogues with greater therapeutic potency have been proposed.