CBD-Dominant Cannabis Extract Reduced Symptoms and Restored Skin Barrier Proteins in Atopic Dermatitis Model, Study Finds

A CBD-dominant cannabis extract reduced inflammation, improved skin lesions and restored proteins involved in maintaining the skin barrier in a model of atopic dermatitis, according to a study published in the journal Nutrients.

Researchers from Wonkwang University and other institutions in South Korea examined a standardized ethanol extract made from Cannabis sativa inflorescences. Chemical testing identified eight cannabinoids, with cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) by far the most abundant.

CBDA and CBD together accounted for 27.81% of the extract. The researchers measured 261.79 milligrams of CBDA and 16.39 milligrams of CBD per gram of extract. The plant material contained 0.27% total THC by dry weight.

The study used male mice whose skin was repeatedly exposed to 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene, or DNCB, to produce lesions resembling atopic dermatitis. The mice received either 100 or 200 milligrams per kilogram of the cannabis extract orally every other day for three weeks. Another group received the corticosteroid dexamethasone for comparison.

Both doses reduced the severity of dermatitis symptoms, including redness, dryness, swelling and skin damage. The higher dose also reduced DNCB-related spleen enlargement and produced improvements that were comparable to dexamethasone in several measurements.

Microscopic analysis found that the extract reduced thickening of the epidermis and dermis, while also decreasing the number of mast cells entering the affected skin. The higher dose reduced serum immunoglobulin E levels to a degree similar to dexamethasone.

The treatment also lowered the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines associated with atopic dermatitis, including IL-4, IL-13, CCL5, CCL17, CCL22 and CXCL10.

At the molecular level, the extract suppressed activity in the MAPK and NLRP3 inflammasome pathways, as well as JAK1/STAT6 signaling. These pathways contribute to inflammation and allergic immune responses.

The extract also restored filaggrin and involucrin, two proteins important for maintaining the skin’s protective barrier and moisture. Involucrin levels increased by more than twofold in mice receiving the higher dose.

The researchers said the results indicate that the extract may address atopic dermatitis through several mechanisms, simultaneously reducing inflammation and supporting skin barrier repair.

However, the study was conducted in mice and did not compare the whole extract with isolated CBD, CBDA or other individual cannabinoids. The researchers said clinical trials are needed to determine whether the findings translate to humans and to establish appropriate doses and long-term safety.