Dear Colleagues,

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex lipidic signalling system that modulates neural activity and network function in the central nervous system (CNS). This system plays a crucial role maintaining the correct homeostasis, not only by modulating neural function, but also by controlling immunological and inflammatory responses of the CNS. The ECS is comprised of cannabinoid receptors (CB₁ and CB₂), endocannabinoid ligands that bind and activate these receptors (anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol; AEA and 2-AG, respectively), and an enzymatic machinery that synthetises and catabolises these ligands.

Since ECS discovery, cannabinoid drugs (i.e., drugs modulating the ECS) have been isolated from the Cannabis sp. plant (phytocannabinoids) or chemically developed (synthetic cannabinoids). These drugs may act as direct agonists, antagonists, indirect agonists among others of cannabinoid receptors. During several years, preclinical and clinical studies have observed interesting changes in the components of this system in neurological disorders such as Alzheimer′s disease, neuropathic pain, brain tumours, or even schizophrenia. Even more, pharmacological administration of cannabinoids in preclinical models of neurological disease have shown promising results alleviating, or even reverting, some of the most severe symptoms of the mentioned diseases. Thus, ECS has become an important potential therapeutic target for the pharmacological treatment of these diseases.

Based on the above information, we encourage all researchers interested in this topic to present research articles or reviews on different aspects of cannabinoids and endocannabinoid system. This special issue will include state-of-the-art reviews and original articles on basic or clinical research on the endocannabinoid system, cannabinoid or cannabis preparations in neurological disorders, either from a pathophysiological or from a therapeutic perspective.

Álvaro Llorente Berzal
Guest Editor

Manuscripts should be submitted via our online editorial system at https://www.biolifesas.org/journalx_brha/authorLogOn.action by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to start your submission. Manuscripts can be submitted now or up until the deadline. All papers will go through peer-review process. Accepted papers will be published in the journal (as soon as accepted) and meanwhile listed together on the special issue website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts will be thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. Please visit the Instruction for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. Submitted manuscripts should be well formatted in good English.