A new study conducted by Spanish researchers disclosed that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active component of marijuana, has anticancer effects on human brain cancer cells.

The researchers said that THC may activate a natural process, which finally resulted in the death of a cell.

In the research, Guillermo Velasco and coworkers at Complutense University, Spain, discovered that THC lead to the death of a variety of human brain cancer cell lines and primary cultured human brain cancer cells through a process, which is called ‘autophagy’.

Consistent with the in vitro data, THC administration to mice having human tumours reduced the growth of tumour and caused the tumour cells to go through autophagy.

As examination of tumours from two patients with repeated glioblastoma multiforme, a highly destructive brain tumour, having intracranial THC administration showed indications of autophagy.

The researchers advise that cannabinoid administration may provide a new approach to targeting human cancers.