The Endocannabinoid System: New Insights into Its Role in Health and Disease 2.0

Dear Colleagues,

Over the last three decades, the endocannabinoid system has emerged as an important neuromodulatory system in the human body that modulates and controls a range of crucial physiological or psychological functions, including inflammatory and immune responses, emotions, learning and memory, sleep, appetite, and nociception, as well as cell growth and proliferation. Based on the available data, it seems that specific cannabinoid receptors as well as enzymes responsible for the synthesis and degradation of their endogenous ligands (i.e., endocannabinoids) are promising as therapeutic targets in multiple diseases and disorders. In fact, the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa) that modulates the endocannabinoid system was widely used in the past for its curative properties. Extensive research on compounds targeting components of the endocannabinoid system in relation to the treatment of psychiatric disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, seizures, cancer, pain, metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory disorders has been carried out with varying degrees of success. Few drugs have reached the pharmaceutical market, but there are several drug candidates whose activity and safety have been verified. In our Special Issue entitled “The Endocannabinoid System: New Insights into Its Role in Health and Disease 2.0”, we would like to encourage scientists to share their opinions and suggestions related to new therapeutic or diagnostic approaches that affect the endocannabinoid system.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for molecular mechanistic research on the endocannabinoid system, with a special focus on its role in health and disease. We warmly welcome your submissions of original papers and reviews based on results from molecular viewpoints.

Prof. Dr. Anna Serefko
Prof. Dr. Aleksandra Szopa
Guest Editors

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• cannabinoids
• cannabinoid receptors
• drug development
• diagnostics
• phytocannabinoids
• synthetic cannabinoids