adipocytes
Fat cells
analgesic
Something that relieves pain
anandamide
A cannabinoid produced within our brains and which is used as a signaling molecule
angiogenesis
The growth and development of new blood vessels
anticonvulsant
Compound used to prevent or reduce the severity of seizures or other convulsions
anxiolytic
Drug or other method used to reduce anxiety
apoptosis
A form of programmed cell death; biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes, followed by cell death
arrhythmia
A group of conditions in which the heartbeat is irregular, too fast, or too slow
atherosclerosis
A disease in which plaque builds up inside the arteries, causing them to harden and narrow
autophagy
Process where a cell disassembles unnecessary or dysfunctional components and recycles the materials to make other components
benign tumor
A mass of cells that lack the ability to invade neighboring tissue or to spread to other parts of the body
cannabinoid receptors
Receptors on various cells in the body involved in cellular signaling which are part of the endocannabinoid system and which bind to specific molecules called cannabinoids. These receptors regulate a variety of physiological processes, including appetite, pain, mood, and memory.
cirrhosis
Late stage scarring of the liver caused by many forms of liver diseases and conditions; Scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue and prevents the liver from working properly
comorbid
Presence of one or more additional diseases or disorders co-occurring with a primary disease or disorder
cytokines
Several different substances secreted by the cells of the immune system and which play an important role in several immune processes
dendrites
Short, branched extensions of neurons which receive impulses (information) from other cells or the environment
dystonia
Sustained or repetitive muscle contractions which result in twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal fixed postures; sometimes movements may resemble a tremor
endogenous
Something grown, produced, or originating within an organism (such as a human)
endorphin
The body's naturally occurring opioid hormones
endothelial
Referring to the cells that line the interior surface of blood vessels and lymphatic vessels
excitotoxicity
Pathological process by which neurons are damage and killed by over-activity of excitatory receptors (particularly glutamate receptors)
fibromyalgia
A complex and common pain disorder that causes widespread pain and tenderness to touch due to a hypersensitivity of the central nervous system
flavonoids
Plant compounds that normally serve as important antioxidants for the plant and which also can provide vibrant color in many fruits and vegetables
follicular hyperkeratinization
A disorder of cells lining the inside of a hair follicle which causes them to shed more rapidly and to clog the follicles due to an excess of the keratin protein
free radicals
Highly reactive molecules with an unpaired electron in their outer shell
glycogen
A polymer of glucose; used by the body as an energy-storage molecule
gut microbiota
Complex community of microorganisms that live in the digestive tracts of humans and other animals; the human gut flora contains tens of trillions of microorganisms
hepatic encephalopathy
An altered level of consciousness caused by liver failure and a build up of waste products in the blood that are normally filtered out by the liver
hepatocytes
Liver cells
heptatotoxicity
Damage to the liver caused by the exposure to specific harmful chemicals
hyperlocomotion
Excessive movement; inability to be still
hypoxia
Pathological condition in which an area of the body is deprived of an adequate oxygen supply
immunosuppressant
Any compound that can suppress or prevent the immune response
inflammation
Part of the body's immune reaction in response to damaged cells, irritants, and pathogens
ischemia
Condition of insufficient blood flow, a lack of oxygen, and eventual cell death
Kupffer cells
Specialized immune cells in the liver which help to remove foreign, toxic, and infectious substances from the blood
leukotrines
Pro-inflammatory molecules produced in leukocytes from arachidonic acid
limbic system
A combination of several structures in the brain involved with emotions, memories, and arousal (stimulation). These structures control the basic emotions/moods and drives/instincts.
lipogenesis
The process of fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis from glucose or other substrates; metabolic formation of fat
malignant
The tendency of a medical condition to become worse; in regards to cancer, it means a tumor can invade and destroy nearby tissue and also spread to other parts of the body
metabolic syndrome
A clustering of at least three of the following five medical conditions: abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high triglycerides, and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL); it is associated with the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes
metastasis
The spread of cancer cells from the place where they first formed to other parts of the body
microglia
A type of glial cell that acts as an immune cell for the central nervous system
natural killer cells
A type of white blood cell that can bind to tumor cells and virus-infected ells and kill them to help protect the body; part of the innate immune system
neurogenesis
The growth and development of new brain cells (neurons)
neurotoxic
Causing damage to the central or peripheral nervous system
neurotransmitter
A chemical molecule that carries signals from a brain cell (neuron) to another target cell, such as another neuron or body cell
nociceptors
The body's pain receptors
NSAIDs
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
nucleus accumbens
An area in the forebrain which plays a significant role in processing motivation, aversion, reward, and reinforcement learning - all of which contributes to its significant role in addiction
oligodendrocytes
Glial cells that produce myelin for neurons in the central nervous system; the myelination provides support and insulation for the axons which carry electrical signals
organelles
Specialized subunits within cells that perform a specific function; An organelle is to a cell as an organ is to the body
oxidative stress
An imbalance between the production of free radicals and the ability of the body to counteract their harmful effects through antioxidant neutralization
phytochemicals
Compounds produced by plants
placebo
A substance with no therapeutic effect which is used as control to test the efficacy of new drugs
prostaglandins
Pro-inflammatory chemicals derived from a fatty acid called arachidonic acid
psychoactive
Referring to a chemical substance that can change brain function and result in alterations in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, or behavior
psychosis
A severe mental disorder is which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with reality
retrograde
In biology, a process where one cell sends a reciprocal message back to the cell that regulates it
sebaceous glands
Small glands in the skin which secrete a lubricating oily matter into hair follicles to lubricate the skin and hair
sebocytes
Any of the cells that make up the oil (sebaceous) glands and secrete an oil-like substance
sebum
An oil-like substance produced by sebaceous glands that helps to waterproof and lubricate skin and hair; it is made of triglycerides, wax esters, squalene, and other metabolites of fat-producing cells
serotonin
A neurotransmitter that plays a large role in the regulation of moods and sleep. It also plays a large role in the gastrointestinal tract and acts as a vasoconstrictor. Its chemical name is 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT).
steatosis
The process describing the abnormal retention of lipids (fats) within a cell (also called fatty change)
superoxide dismutase
An enzyme that breaks down a free radical called a superoxide radical which results from oxygen metabolism into safer substances; SOD is an important antioxidant defense in nearly all living cells exposed to oxygen
synaptic plasticity
The ability of synapses (connections between neurons) to strengthen or weaken over time in response to changes in their activity levels - a key mechanism in learning and memory
synergistic
Relating to the interaction or cooperation of two or more substances or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of the separate effects
terpenes
A large group of volatile hydrocarbons found in the essential oils of plants, with particularly large amounts in conifers and citrus trees. They often have a strong odor and are used by plants as a deterrent for herbivores.
vasodilation
An increase in the diameter of arteries caused by the relaxation of smooth muscle cells in the artery walls
American Grown and Processed
