Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2026

An Acupoint Catgut-embedding Therapy for Treating Obesity
04:50

An Acupoint Catgut-embedding Therapy for Treating Obesity

Published on: April 4, 2025

Cannabinoid receptors as therapeutic targets for obesity and metabolic diseases

Luigi Bellocchio1, Giacomo Mancini, Valentina Vicennati

  • 1Endocrinology Unit and CRBA, Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.

Current Opinion in Pharmacology
|October 10, 2006
PubMed

Insights

The endocannabinoid system plays a key role in regulating food intake and metabolism. Antagonizing cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) may help manage obesity and related metabolic disorders by normalizing endocannabinoid tone.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Metabolic Disorders
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • The endocannabinoid system is a key regulator of food reward, energy balance, and peripheral metabolism.
  • Obesity is linked to pathological overactivation of the endocannabinoid system.
  • Cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) is a significant target for metabolic disorder interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the endocannabinoid system as a pharmacological target for obesity and related metabolic disorders.
  • To investigate the potential of antagonizing the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) to manage obesity.

Main Methods:

  • Review of the endocannabinoid system's role in regulating food intake and energy balance.
  • Analysis of the endocannabinoid system's influence on peripheral metabolic tissues.
  • Exploration of CB1 antagonism as a therapeutic strategy.

Main Results:

  • The endocannabinoid system critically influences food intake and energy homeostasis.
  • Dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system is implicated in obesity development.
  • Targeting CB1 receptors offers a potential therapeutic avenue for obesity.

Conclusions:

  • The endocannabinoid system is a promising target for combating obesity and metabolic disorders.
  • Restoring normal endocannabinoid tone via CB1 antagonism may halt obesity progression.
  • Pharmacological modulation of the endocannabinoid system holds potential for metabolic health.

More Related Videos

Quantifying Food Intake in Caenorhabditis elegans by Measuring Bacterial Clearance07:05

Quantifying Food Intake in Caenorhabditis elegans by Measuring Bacterial Clearance

Published on: February 23, 2024

An Adipocyte Cell Culture Model to Study the Impact of Protein and Micro-RNA Modulation on Adipocyte Function09:20

An Adipocyte Cell Culture Model to Study the Impact of Protein and Micro-RNA Modulation on Adipocyte Function

Published on: May 4, 2021

Related Concept Videos

G Protein-coupled Receptors01:15

G Protein-coupled Receptors

G Protein-Coupled Receptors or GPCRs are membrane-bound receptors that transiently associate with heterotrimeric G proteins and induce an appropriate response to sensory stimuli such as light, odors, hormones, cytokines, or neurotransmitters.
GPCRs are also called heptahelical, 7TM, or serpentine receptors, and consist of seven (H1-H7) transmembrane alpha-helices that span the bilayer to form a cylindrical core. The transmembrane helices are connected by three extracellular loops and three...
Regulation of Food Intake01:30

Regulation of Food Intake

Short-term regulation of food intake primarily involves neural signals from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, blood nutrient levels, and GI tract hormones. Communication between the gut and brain via vagal nerve fibers plays a significant role in evaluating the contents of the gut. Clinical studies have shown that protein ingestion produces a more prolonged response in these nerve fibers compared to an equivalent amount of glucose. Additionally, the activation of stretch receptors caused by GI...
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Cannabinoids01:21

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Cannabinoids

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a phytocannabinoid that primarily interacts with the CB1 receptor, a type of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) predominantly in and around the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) and emetic center. THC also blocks the serotonin receptor activity in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) by inhibiting serotonin release. THC exerts its anti-emetic effects through these interactions, which are beneficial for patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Two synthetic agonists of THC,...
CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids01:24

CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids

CNS stimulants, such as cocaine, amphetamines, and cannabinoids, have varying structures and mechanisms of action that lead to different therapeutic effects and side effects. Cocaine, with its molecular formula C17H21NO4, is a tropane alkaloid and a tertiary amino compound. It has two chemical forms: the hydrochloride salt and the "freebase." The former is in powder form, while the latter involves removing the hydrochloride salt to create a form that can be smoked. Cocaine exerts its effects by...
Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution01:25

Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution

Obesity significantly alters the pharmacokinetic processes of drug absorption and distribution, presenting unique challenges in medical treatment. The increased fat tissue and decreased lean muscle in obese individuals can significantly affect how drugs are absorbed into the body and distributed across different tissues. This alteration can lead to variances in the effectiveness and safety of medications, necessitating adjustments in dosing or drug selection for obese patients.One notable...