Scientists Discover New Cannabis Compounds, But What Exactly Are They?

Marijuana is the most widely used “illegal” drug in the world.

It is also the most popular as millions of consumers are now using it legally around the world thanks to many countries relaxing their stance after the United States, Canada and Uruguay. From a scientific point of view, however, we know so little about the compounds in the plant. To date, there are 500 known compounds in the plant, but only two cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), have been extensively studied multiple times. We’ve been able to identify their therapeutic uses for dozens of ailments, although that doesn’t mean they’re the only 2 valuable compounds in the plant.

THC is the cannabinoid responsible for its psychoactive properties, and it also has important therapeutic benefits. On the other hand, CBD does not cause a high but is widely marketed as a powerful tranquilizer. Both have powerful anti-inflammatory properties that help relieve pain, spasms, anxiety, depression, trauma, and more.

But in recent years, scientists have been able to identify even more compounds within the plant that are beneficial to us. There are several other cannabinoids and terpenes, big and small, all of which have excellent medicinal value in many different ways; it also contains flavonoids and omega-3 fatty acids.

Let’s look at some of the recent discoveries.

In March 2022, earlier this year, Italian researchers identified tryptophan, kynurenine and kynurenic acid in cannabis for the first time. Although these compounds already exist in both us humans and mammals, kynurenine is a metabolite of tryptophan, an amino acid that we cannot produce ourselves. Therefore, we have to rely on our food intake to get enough of it.

Using high-resolution mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography, they found that these compounds are found throughout the plant, although they are present in much greater abundance in the leaves. What’s also interesting to the researchers is that kynurenic acid is highly concentrated in cannabis compared to other plants, as it’s also found in some vegetables like potatoes, squash, and broccoli — as well as other herbs and spices.

According to the researchers, 95% of the tryptophan in the human body is metabolized to kynurenine, although some of this is further broken down to kynurenic acid. The latter is attracting researchers’ interest because of its neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, particularly for the heart and brain. Additionally, tryptophan metabolites are known to help regulate lipids and reduce obesity.

“Considering the important role kynurenic acid plays in animals and humans, its accumulation in the leaves opens up a new branch of cannabis chemistry that makes this plant even more attractive than it already is,” they concluded.

Also, in 2019, Italian researchers accidentally discovered two cannabinoids, namely THCP and CBDP, while studying an industrial hemp strain. The same team discovered THCB and CBDB the year before, but the identification of THCP was extremely important, as it could help us better understand why some low-THC strains are still extremely potent, both in their high and in their medicinal value.

Using mouse models, they discovered that the binding mechanism of THCP to the animals’ CB1 receptors resulted in effects similar to THC, even when using only half a dose. They found that THCP was 33 times more active at the CB1 receptor compared to THC, while it was also 5-10 times more active at the CB2 receptor. They also found that THCP dissolves more easily in fats.

Because of this, cannabis strains that contain more THCP are more potent than those that only contain THC.

On the other hand, they also discovered CBDP, also known as CBD-C7 or CBD-Heptyl. Unfortunately, we still know significantly less about CBDP compared to THCP, but researchers have deprioritized its study simply because it binds less effectively to CB1 and CB2 receptors.

Although there’s still a lot we don’t know about THCP, the Italian researchers discovered that it may have potential for pain relief, hypomobility, and lowering rectal temperature.

“In our opinion, this compound should be included in the list of the most important phytocannabinoids to be identified in order to correctly assess the pharmacological effect of the cannabis extracts administered to patients,” say the researchers. “Indeed, we believe that the discovery of an extremely potent THC-like phytocannabinoid could shed light on multiple pharmacological effects that are not unique to THC,” they conclude.

For those interested in knowing how THCP feels like, it might be interesting to know that some cannabis brands are already selling THCP products in the market.

Conclusion

While marijuana in one form or another is legal in most U.S. states, research is another matter entirely. Cannabis research in the United States is notoriously difficult, which is why many of these new, recent discoveries about the plant’s constituents are being made by researchers abroad.

Currently, cannabis is still a federally illegal substance and is still listed as a Schedule 1 drug at the time of writing. That hasn’t stopped researchers far and wide from studying all about the plant, and it looks like we can still expect exciting new discoveries in the years to come. Learning about the plant should be something that both supporters and opponents of marijuana legalization should embrace, as unbiased research will only help us move forward and make more informed decisions — for both patients and physicians.

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