Cannabidiol in biomedical research: Potential and challenges

Cannabidiol (CBD) has emerged as a promising therapeuticagent for a range of conditions, including neurological and inflammatory disorders. Despite its potential, challenges related to bioavailability, metabolization, and stability persist, limiting its clinical use.

We analyzed the CBD literature (1963–2025), revealing a significant increase in research activity, with publications peaking at approximately 200 articles in 2020. Our findings highlight strong correlations between journal articles and other publication types, such as clinical phase studies and reviews (Spearman’s rho = 0.78 and 0.97), indicating a cohesive research landscape. We identified geographical disparities in research output, with Western nations (United States 28%, Europe 30%) leading. We explore research on toxicity, drug delivery systems, and tissue engineering trends, noting that journal articles constitute approximately 66.41% of all publications, with reviews making up about 20.94%.

The review underscores CBD’s broad therapeutic applications, supported by both preclinical and clinical studies while emphasizing the critical need to address drug delivery challenges. We conclude by emphasizing the need for innovative delivery solutions to enhance CBD’s therapeutic potential and overcome existing limitations in medical applications.