Cannabis sativa extract modulates pain sensitivity in albino wistar rats: Gender and dose considerations

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of cannabis use, specifically among young people seeking relief from pain, has generated both public health concern and scientific curiosity. Despite anecdotal claims and preliminary findings suggesting analgesic effects of cannabis, there remains a notable dearth in rigorous experimental studies investigating its efficacy, dosage implications, gender-related differences and time interval administrations in pain response. Existing studies often overlooks the detailed relationship between dosage, sex, and neurobehavioral outcomes in controlled experimental settings. To address this dearth, this study examined the effects of cannabis extract on pain sensitivity using an animal model. Twenty-four albino Wistar rats (12 males, 12 females; 100g weight) were maintained under controlled conditions (30±2°C, 12hr light/dark cycles) in a completely randomized design experiment. Approved Cannabis sativa was homogenized and administered in three treatment groups (n=8 each) with three replicates. Pain sensitivity was assessed using a Thomas Scientific hot plate, while memory recognition was evaluated through object recognition tests, employing a pretest-posttest design. ANOVA results demonstrated significant effects of cannabis on pain sensitivity (p<0.05), with sex differences also influencing outcomes. The findings suggest that controlled, low-dose cannabis administration under medical supervision may offer therapeutic potential for severe pain management.