Study: CBD Protects Newborn Brain Cells From Oxygen Deprivation by Blocking Ferroptosis Pathway

In a study being published in the March issue of Phytomedicine and published online ahead of print, CBD was found to protect newborn brain cells from one of the most damaging effects of oxygen deprivation: a form of cell death known as ferroptosis. Perinatal hypoxia-ischemia, caused by a lack of oxygen and blood flow around the time of birth, is a leading cause of long-term neurological impairment in infants. Ferroptosis, a process driven by iron buildup and lipid peroxidation, has increasingly been recognized as a central mechanism behind this type of brain injury. The study explored whether CBD, a non-psychoactive compound found in marijuana, can interrupt this destructive pathway.

Researchers used differentiated human neuroblastoma cells designed to mimic neurons and exposed them to oxygen-glucose deprivation, a laboratory model that recreates hypoxic-ischemic conditions. CBD was then applied to determine whether it could reduce cellular damage.

The findings showed that CBD significantly lowered oxidative stress while boosting the cells’ antioxidant defenses. In particular, CBD preserved the function and activity of glutathione peroxidase 4, an enzyme considered critical in preventing lipid peroxidation and ferroptotic cell death. The compound also increased activation of Nrf2, a transcription factor that regulates the body’s antioxidant response.

Beyond its effects on oxidative stress, CBD prevented the loss of ferroportin, a protein responsible for moving excess iron out of cells. By maintaining ferroportin levels, CBD may help reduce the iron accumulation that fuels ferroptosis. Under hypoxic conditions, the researchers observed increased expression of HIF-1α and VEGF, both involved in cellular survival responses, with CBD further enhancing VEGF expression.

The results indicate that CBD works on multiple fronts—redox balance, antioxidant protection, and iron regulation—to reduce the risk of ferroptotic injury.

Researchers conclude by saying “CBD mitigates ferroptosis by modulating redox balance, antioxidant defence, and iron metabolism, supporting its potential role as a therapeutic strategy for neonatal hypoxic–ischemic brain injury.”