# Cannabidiol may prevent the development of congestive hepatopathy secondary to right ventricular hypertrophy associated with pulmonary hypertension in rats

## TL;DR

Cannabidiol may protect the liver from damage caused by heart failure in rats with pulmonary hypertension by reducing inflammation and improving heart function.

## Contribution

CBD reduces liver damage in rats with heart failure caused by pulmonary hypertension through anti-inflammatory effects and heart protection.

## Key findings

- CBD reduced liver weight and improved liver structure in rats with pulmonary hypertension.
- CBD decreased inflammatory markers like NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in affected rats.
- CBD may protect the liver by reducing heart strain and inflammation via the NF-κB pathway.

## Abstract

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) can cause right ventricular (RV) failure and subsequent cardiohepatic syndrome referred to as congestive hepatopathy (CH). Passive blood stasis in the liver can affect inflammation, fibrosis, and ultimately cirrhosis. Cannabidiol (CBD) has many beneficial properties including anti-inflammatory and reduces RV systolic pressure and RV hypertrophy in monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PH in rats. Thus, it suggests that CBD may have the potential to limit CH development secondary to RV failure. The present study aimed to determine whether chronic administration of CBD can inhibit the CH secondary to RV hypertrophy associated with MCT-induced PH.

The experiments involved rats with and without MCT-induced PH. CBD (10 mg/kg) or its vehicle was administered once daily for 3 weeks after MCT injection (60 mg/kg).

Monocrotaline administration increased the liver/body weight ratio. In histology examinations, we observed necrosis and vacuolar degeneration of hepatocytes as well as sinusoidal congestion. In biochemical studies, we observed increased levels of nuclear factor-κappa B (NF-κB), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNA-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), and interleukin 6 (IL-6). CBD administration to PH rats reduced the liver/body weight ratio, improved the architecture of the liver, and inhibited the formation of necrosis. Cannabidiol also decreased the level of NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6.

The studies show that CBD can protect the liver from CH probably through attenuating PH, protective effects on the RV, and possibly direct anti-inflammatory effects on liver tissue through regulation of the NF-κB pathway.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43440-024-00579-4.