Epidiolex and potential derived drugs from Cannabis and their future prospectives

Recently, Cannabis, an herbaceous plant widely found in Central Asia has become a resurgence of interest. It is well known for eliciting pharmacological effects in neurodegenerative diseases such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, dementia, cancer pain, and HIV neuropathy. Generally, Cannabis constitutes two major components: Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive component and cannabidiol that is non-psychoactive and antagonistic to endocannabinoid receptors. Hence, the interaction of these components and their derivatives with different receptors have paved a way for future research on metabolomics, drug discovery, proteomics which has led to a further understanding of the endocannabinoid system. Last year FDA approved a primary Cannabis-derived drug “Epidiolex” to treat severe cases of neurological disorders such as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. Despite a few side effects, Epidiolex has found to reduce the frequency of seizures also. This research provides a new horizon in the field of pharmaceuticals to treat various dreadful diseases effectively and economically.