Cytotoxic Effect of a Zein, Cannabidiol, and Cannabigerol-Based Formulation in an In Vitro Cell Model of Caco-2 Cells
Cytotoxic Effect of Zein, Cannabidiol, and Cannabigerol on Caco-2 Cells
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29105/idcyta.v11i1.143Keywords:
Cannabinoids, Cannabidiol, Cannabigerol, Caco-2, ZeinAbstract
This research article focuses on evaluating the cytotoxic effects of the phytocannabinoids cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG), both individually and in combination (CBD:CBG), as well as in a zein-based formulation containing both cannabinoids (ZeCBD:CBG). The effects of CBD, CBG, CBD:CBG, and ZeCBD:CBG on cell viability were assessed in the intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cell line by measuring mitochondrial-dependent metabolic activity using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction assay. In addition, the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of each treatment was estimated using Probit analysis. All evaluated treatments induced a reduction in Caco-2 cell viability to different extents, with ZeCBD:CBG and CBD:CBG showing the lowest IC₅₀ values (12.8 µM and 9.2 µM, respectively). Overall, these results indicate that the formulation of CBD and CBG in a zein-based matrix exhibits a lower cytotoxic metabolic effect compared with the free cannabinoids under the in vitro conditions evaluated.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Cárdenas-Noriega , Dr. Elizondo-Luevano, Dr. Soto-Domínguez , Dr. Chávez-Montes , Dr. Rodríguez-Tovar , Moisés Armides Franco-Molina, Diana Ginette Zárate-Triviño, Dra. Gutiérrez-Soto, Dra. Martínez-Delgado, Dr. Pérez-Hernández, Dr. Castillo-Velázquez
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