Multi-target molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effects of cannabidiol against methamphetamine-induced...

Methamphetamine is a widely abused psychostimulant and its neurotoxic effects involve multiple pathological processes, including oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, autophagy-apoptosis imbalance, and neurotransmitter dysregulation, posing a serious threat to the nervous system of individuals who abuse it. Currently, treatment options for methamphetamine-induced neural injury are limited, indicating the urgent need to develop safe and effective pharmacological interventions. Cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive component of Cannabis sativa, has emerged as a research hotspot because of its neuroprotective effects mediated through multiple targets and pathways. This review systematically summarizes the latest evidence on the protective effects of cannabidiol against methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity, focusing on its regulation of oxidative stress, inhibition of neuroinflammation, stabilization of mitochondrial function, modulation of autophagy and apoptosis pathways, and effects on neurotransmitter systems. The aim of this paper is to clarify the multitarget mechanisms underlying cannabidiol-mediated neuroprotection and provide a theoretical basis for its potential use as an adjunctive therapy for methamphetamine abuse and associated neural injury.