Cannabis Plant Extract Reduces Pain and Inflammation in Animal Models
A crude cannabis extract showed significant pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, and anti-menstrual-cramp effects in mice and rats at low doses.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
An ethanolic extract of Cannabis sativa aerial parts demonstrated antinociceptive effects in multiple pain models (hot plate, formalin, writhing tests), anti-inflammatory activity in paw edema, and reduced uterine contractions in a dysmenorrhea model, all at doses of 1-10 mg/kg.
Key Numbers
Effective at doses of 1-10 mg/kg oral. Higher doses (30-100 mg/kg) caused reduced mobility and hypothermia. Extract contained CBD, THC, CBG, flavonoids, and alkaloids.
How They Did This
Preclinical pharmacological study using Swiss mice and Wistar rats across multiple validated pain, inflammation, and dysmenorrhea models with oral administration of cannabis extract.
Why This Research Matters
While individual cannabinoids are well-studied, whole-plant extract research reveals how the combined chemical profile, including cannabinoids, flavonoids, and alkaloids, contributes to therapeutic effects.
The Bigger Picture
This study supports the "entourage effect" concept, where whole-plant preparations may have different pharmacological profiles than isolated compounds. The dysmenorrhea findings are particularly notable given limited treatment options.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Animal model results do not directly translate to humans. Crude extract composition may vary between batches. No comparison with isolated cannabinoids to determine which components drive effects. Higher doses caused sedation.
Questions This Raises
- ?Which specific compounds in the extract are responsible for each effect?
- ?Would standardized whole-plant preparations outperform isolated cannabinoids for pain?
- ?What is the therapeutic window between pain relief and sedation?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Cannabis extract effective at 1-10 mg/kg for pain and inflammation in animals
- Evidence Grade:
- Well-designed preclinical study with multiple validated models, but animal results require human confirmation.
- Study Age:
- 2025 animal study using cannabis from Brazil's Vale do Sao Francisco region.
- Original Title:
- Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and anti-dysmenorrheal activities of aerial parts of Cannabis sativa L. from the sub-middle region of the Vale do São Francisco.
- Published In:
- Frontiers in pharmacology, 16, 1677987 (2025)
- Authors:
- Menezes, Pedro Modesto Nascimento, Rocha, João Lázaro de Oliveira, Silva, Murilo Soares, Silva, Juliane Maria Dos Santos, Araújo, Tarcísio Cícero de Lima, Deus, Deborah Lays Silva, Rolim-Neto, Pedro Jose, Matos, Luana Fernandes, Massaranduba, Ana Beatriz Rodrigues, Silva, Fabrício Souza, Rolim, Larissa Araújo
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07119
Evidence Hierarchy
Tests effects in animals (usually mice or rats), not humans.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can cannabis help with menstrual cramps?
In this animal study, a cannabis extract reduced uterine contractions in a dysmenorrhea model at doses of 3-10 mg/kg. Human studies are needed to confirm whether similar effects occur in people.
Is whole-plant cannabis extract more effective than isolated cannabinoids?
This study tested only whole-plant extract, which contains CBD, THC, CBG, flavonoids, and alkaloids. Without a direct comparison to isolated compounds, the question remains open.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07119APA
Menezes, Pedro Modesto Nascimento; Rocha, João Lázaro de Oliveira; Silva, Murilo Soares; Silva, Juliane Maria Dos Santos; Araújo, Tarcísio Cícero de Lima; Deus, Deborah Lays Silva; Rolim-Neto, Pedro Jose; Matos, Luana Fernandes; Massaranduba, Ana Beatriz Rodrigues; Silva, Fabrício Souza; Rolim, Larissa Araújo. (2025). Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and anti-dysmenorrheal activities of aerial parts of Cannabis sativa L. from the sub-middle region of the Vale do São Francisco.. Frontiers in pharmacology, 16, 1677987. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2025.1677987
MLA
Menezes, Pedro Modesto Nascimento, et al. "Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and anti-dysmenorrheal activities of aerial parts of Cannabis sativa L. from the sub-middle region of the Vale do São Francisco.." Frontiers in pharmacology, 2025. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2025.1677987
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and anti-dysmenorrheal a..." RTHC-07119. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/menezes-2025-antinociceptive-antiinflammatory-and-antidysmenorrheal
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.