Marijuana’s Polyphenols Help Neurons Flip On Their Antioxidant Defenses, Study Finds

According to a study published by the journal Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, a polyphenol-rich extract from Cannabis sativa may help nerve-like cells defend themselves against oxidative stress, a biological process widely linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS and primary lateral sclerosis. Researchers from Universidad San Jorge tested an aqueous polyphenolic fraction of cannabis in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, a commonly used laboratory cell model with neuron-like features. After treating the cells with different concentrations of the extract, the team induced oxidative stress using hydrogen peroxide at 100 µM, then measured changes tied to redox signaling, inflammation, and cell survival.

According to the abstract, the polyphenolic fraction significantly activated the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway, a major cellular defense system that regulates antioxidant responses. The researchers also reported increased expression of PRDX1 and PRDX3, along with stronger endogenous antioxidant defenses based on enzyme activity testing.

The study further found markers consistent with reduced cell-death signaling tied to endoplasmic reticulum stress, described as a shift in Bax/Bcl-2 signaling. Inflammatory measures also declined in the treated cells, including nitric oxide (NO) and other reported markers such as NF-κB2, IL-6, and IL-8.

In additional computer-modeling work, the team identified Leu583 as a key residue involved in Nrf2-ligand interactions. The findings, as described, suggest marijuana polyphenols may play a meaningful role in redox balance and inflammation in settings tied to oxidative and mitochondrial damage.