Next to the brain, the intestine contains the largest number of neurons - the so-called enteric nervous system. The project is investigating the extent to which cannabinoids affect this nervous system.

In the brain, CB2 receptors control inflammatory processes. These are also thought to be present in immune cells of the enteric nervous system. Patients with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis appear to benefit from cannabinoids.

Cannabinoids are increasingly being marketed as functional foods, in beverages or in food additives and are thus increasingly being administered via the gastrointestinal tract. Cannabidiol (CBD), for example, which unlike THC does not have an intoxicating effect, has become very popular in recent years and is used by many people without medical supervision for self-treatment of a variety of ailments or as a lifestyle substance.

The "ENECeN" project is investigating how cannabinoids affect the healthy gut and its nervous system using cultures of neurons and immune cells from the gut. In addition, the potential therapeutic function on diseased tissue is being analyzed. In particular, neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's dementia are being considered.