In Vitro In Vivo evaluation of toxicity and efficacy of CBD formulation

This study investigated the impact of CBD formulations with respect to toxicity and bioavailability. The project was a collaboration between DCU and Maynooth University and benefited from the combined expertise and infrastructure to support both in-vitro testing on skin and intestinal cell models and in-vivo testing on larvae to measure the toxicity of compounds and in vivo efficacy.

The use of in-vitro cell line allows the study of various molecular pathways. This study uses the established cell lines, Caco-2 and HT-29, as models of the intestinal epithelia.

In Vivo testing was conducted using Larvae (caterpillars) of Galleria mellonella. The insect immune response is very similar to the innate immune response of mammals and so insects may be used in place of mammals for a wide range of applications and yield results equivalent to those from mammalian testing. Larvae can also be used to study the metabolism of compounds and show similar metabolic process as occur in mammals.

Led by Dr Finbarr O’Sullivan, NICB, Dublin City University and Prof. Kevin Kavanagh, Maynooth University.