Akhtar, T. A. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2025

Cannflavin B ameliorates social and anxiety deficits and neuronal systems dysfunction in adolescent rats exposed to prenatal valproic acid

There has been growing interest in natural products as potential therapeutics for the core and comorbid symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. Almost all the studies on autism have focused on the therapeutic benefits of cannabis and its associated cannabinoids. In this study the potential therapeutic efficacy of cannflavin B, a related, yet non-psychoactive component of the Cannabis sativa plant, was evaluated. Using prenatal valproic acid (VPA) exposure in rats, a model that has been widely used to study aspects of autism, we showed that cannflavin B was anxiolytic in the female VPA rats, and normalized sociality in VPA animals of both sexes. When neuronal oscillatory activity was examined, in female VPA rats cannflavin B normalized alterations in low frequency power within the cingulate cortex (Cg), and theta-gamma cross frequency coupling between the dorsal hippocampus (dHIP) and the prefrontal cortex (PFC). In male VPA animals, cannflavin B induced frequency-specific alterations in power within the PFC, Cg, and dHIP and ameliorated the VPA-induced suppression of oscillatory coherence between all three regions. In each brain region, cannflavin B also attenuated the sex-specific VPA-induced elevations in microglia. In vitro, cannflavin B normalized VPA-induced elevations in cortical and HIP neuronal activity and promoted more organized cortical firing. These findings demonstrate cannflavin B normalizes behavioural and neuronal systems function alterations induced by prenatal VPA in rats. The present study highlights the importance of alternative cannabis compounds in autism and other disorders.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

Preclinical Study of Cannflavins A and B Action Against Glioblastoma Cells

AO_SCPLOWBSTRACTC_SCPLOWO_ST_ABSBackgroundC_ST_ABSFlavonoids represent a large group of naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds, many of which have been found to produce valuable biological outcomes, including action against cancer cells. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive type of brain tumor that is associated with a poor prognosis and has limited treatment options. Previous findings suggest that cannflavins can produce promising effects for pancreatic and bladder cancers, but the efficacy of these phytochemicals in attacking brain tumour cells remains unknown. Our study evaluates the potential of cannflavin A and cannflavin B against GBM cells using a range of in vitro approaches. ResultsWe conducted experiments using A-172 and U-87 GBM lines to assess the impact of cannflavins A and B on cell viability, cycle, migration, and invasion capacity. Our results revealed a consistent dose-dependent decrease in cell viability in both lines after the addition of cannflavin B to the culture media. Interestingly, we found that chrysoeriol (the non-prenylated synthesis precursor of cannflavins in the Cannabis sativa plant) only has a limited adverse effect on survival using the same approach, while techtochrysin (an O-methylated flavone) has none. Using time-lapse live-cell imaging and a scratch assay, we also show that cannflavins can inhibit tumor cell migration at concentrations below those that produce significant cell death. Finally, we found that cannflavin B exhibits anti-migratory and anti-invasive properties in transwell and tumorsphere assays, underscoring its multifaceted therapeutic potential. ConclusionThese findings suggest that cannflavin B holds promise as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of GBM. HO_SCPLOWIGHLIGHTSC_SCPLOWO_LICannflavin B but not cannflavin A limits the viability of A-172 and U-87 GBM cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. C_LIO_LIUsing time-lapse live-cell imaging and a scratch assay, we provide evidence that cannflavins A and B can inhibit GBM cell migration at concentrations below those that result in a significant reduction in cell viability. C_LIO_LICannflavin B exhibits robust anti-migratory and anti-invasive properties in transwell and tumorsphere assays, underscoring its multifaceted therapeutic potential. C_LIO_LIAlthough previous work had reported the capacity of cannflavins A and B to interfere with TrkB and downstream the MAPK/AKT signaling pathways in mouse primary neurons, the effect of those molecules is limited in GBMs, suggesting that other targets are engaged to produce the cellular effects. C_LI

pharmacology and toxicology↗