Studies of rat neurons show that a compound in marijuana acts as an antioxidant and might protect against damage from strokes.
References:
Hampson, A.J., et al. 1998. Cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol are neuroprotective antioxidants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 95(July 7):8268.
Further Readings:
Lipkin, R. 1994. Protecting nerve cells after injury. Science News 146(Sept. 3):157.
Raloff, J. 1996. Antioxidants: Confirming a heart-y role. Science News 150(July 6):6.
Seachrist, L. 1995. Widely used drug prevents stroke. Science News 148(Sept. 16):183
Sternberg, S. 1996. Bold aim in stroke: Spare the brain. Science News 150(Dec. 21):388.
Sources:
Aidan J. Hampson
National Institutes of Health
National Institute of Mental Health Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Regulation Bethesda, MD 20892JoAnn E. Manson
Harvard Medical School
181 Longwood Avenue, Room 333
Boston, MA 02115
7/11/98
copyright 1998 ScienceService