Cannabis extract can help treat cancer, say Thai researchers

Bangkok: A Rangsit University research team says a new study has shown that cannabinoid extract can help treat lung cancer.Asst Professor Surang Leelawat, director of the newly founded Medical Cannabis Research Institute of the College of Pharmacy at Rangsit University, revealed the breakthrough at a press conference during the opening ceremony of the institute on Tuesday.

Surang said her team of researchers had found that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinol (CBN), which are extracted from cannabis, can stop the growth of lung cancer cells in mice and thus offer the promise of becoming new anti-lung cancer agents in humans.

Surang said this was another step forward in finding an effective treatment that could save many lives, as lung cancer is one of the deadliest cancers and there is no effective way yet to treat this fatal disease.

“Our clinical trials in the laboratory and on animals of the lung cancer treatment proficiency of three major cannabinoid compounds – THC, CBD (Cannibidiol) and CBN – showed that THC and CBN can effectively deter cancer growth, confirming the potential of using cannabis to treat lung cancer in humans,” she said.

“Even though it is too early to claim that cannabis can cure cancer, this promising research result will be developed further through a phase of clinical trials in humans.

“We hope that we will find an effective treatment for lung cancer in the near future.”

Rangsit University rector Arthit Ourairat praised the major breakthrough as more proof of the usefulness of cannabis for medical treatment, underlining the university’s pursuit of further medical cannabis research and development efforts by setting up a new institute.

Arthit said the university had contacted some major hospitals to work together on human trials in the development of cannabinoid medicine for treating lung cancer.

“As Rangsit University has opened the Medical Cannabis Research Institute to be a focal institution to develop medicines and new medical treatment techniques from cannabis, we are not only focusing on developing conventional cannabinoid medicines, but also improving the use of medical cannabis in Thai traditional medicine and developing other medical products from cannabis,” he said.

He revealed that Rangsit Univer­sity had already obtained official permission to grow cannabis and research medical cannabis.

It has invested over 40 million baht (RM5.1mil) on procuring high-tech medical research equipment for the laboratory at the new research institute. — The Nation/Asia News Network