A new scientific review on the potential benefits of marijuana in treating brain disorders says that in addition to THC and CBD produced by the cannabis plant, “a diverse array of lesser-known phytocannabinoids, along with terpenes, flavonoids, and alkaloids” may also “demonstrate diverse pharmacological activities” and could offer therapeutic applications.
Such compounds include THCV, CBDV and CBG.
“Their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuromodulatory effects position them as promising agents in treating neurodegenerative disorders,” says the report, authored by a pair of researchers from the Center for Dementia Research at the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research in New York and released last month through Preprints.org.
Authors evaluated available scientific literature about minor cannabinoids and conditions such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease and substance and alcohol use disorders. They found evidence not only of neuroprotective effects but also other beneficial outcomes.
“The therapeutic potential of Cannabis sativa extends well beyond the widely studied CBD,” the report says, “encompassing a diverse range of lesser‐known phytocannabinoids that show promise in addressing various neurological disorders.”
“While research has extensively examined the neuropsychiatric and neuroprotective effects of Δ9-THC,” it adds, “other minor phytocannabinoids remain underexplored.”
“The neuroprotective functions of these [non‐psychotropic minor phytocannabinoids], particularly their antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and immune‐modulating properties, offer new avenues for research and treatment. While the pharmacological mechanisms of many NMPs remain underexplored, emerging studies suggest their potential to develop novel therapies for brain disorders. As research continues to unfold, these findings could pave the way for innovative cannabinoid plant‐based treatments that go beyond the scope of traditional approaches, offering new hope in neuroprotection and disease management.”
The new report follows a separate study into the lesser chemical components of marijuana, published this summer, found that minor cannabinoids may have anticancer effects on blood cancer.
That research, published in the journal BioFactors, looked at minor cannabinoids and multiple myeloma (MM), testing responses in cell models to the cannabinoids CBG, CBC, CBN and CBDV as well as studying CBN in a mouse model.
“Together, our results suggest that CBG, CBC, CBN, and CBDV can be promising anticancer agents for MM,” authors wrote, “due to their cytotoxic effect on MM cell lines and, for CBN, in in vivo xenograft mouse model of MM.”
They also noted the cannabinoids’ apparently “beneficial effect on the bone in terms of reduction of MM cells invasion toward the bone and bone resorption (mainly CBG and CBN).”
A more recent study, meanwhile—also released on Preprints.org—found that while it’s “plausible” that terpenes produced by cannabis are responsible for modulating a marijuana high, it’s still “unproven.”
“Up to date, no reliable scientific evidence of this synergy exists, at least at the cannabinoid (CB) receptor level,” the report says. “Nonetheless, it would be premature to deny the existence of either pharmacodynamic or pharmacokinetic interactions among active compounds present in Cannabis, as many biological activities have been attributed to its terpenes, including analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anxiolytic properties.”
Authors wrote that the so-called entourage effect appears “plausible, particularly when considering minor Phyto cannabinoids, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and sesquiterpenoids.”
A separate study published earlier this year in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, said that the “complex interaction between phytocannabinoids and biological systems offers hope for novel treatment approaches,” potentially laying the groundwork for a new era of innovation in cannabis-based medicines.
“The plant Cannabis exhibits an effect called the ‘entourage effect’, in which the combined actions of terpenes and phytocannabinoids results in effects that exceed the sum of their separate contributions,” that study found. “This synergy emphasizes how important it is to consider the entire plant when utilizing cannabinoids medicinally as opposed to just concentrating on individual cannabinoids.”
A federally funded study published in May, meanwhile, found that terpenes could be “potential therapeutics for chronic neuropathic pain,” finding that an injected dose of the compounds produced a “roughly equal” reduction in pain markers when compared to a smaller dose of morphine. Terpenes also appeared to enhance the efficacy of morphine when given in combination.
Unlike with morphine, however, none of the studied terpenes produced a meaningful reward response, that research found, indicating that “terpenes could be effective analgesics with no rewarding or dysphoric side effects.”
Another study published earlier this year looked at the “collaborative interactions” between cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids and other molecules in the plant, concluding that a better understanding of the relationships of various chemical components “is crucial for unraveling cannabis’s complete therapeutic potential.”
Other recent research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that a citrusy-smelling terpene in marijuana, D-limonene, could help ease anxiety and paranoia associated with THC. Researchers similarly said the finding could help unlock the maximum therapeutic benefit of THC.
A separate study last year found that cannabis products with a more diverse array of natural cannabinoids produced stronger psychoactive experiences in adults, which also lasted longer than the high generated by pure THC.
And a 2018 study found that patients suffering from epilepsy experience better health outcomes—with fewer adverse side effects—when they use plant-based CBD extracts compared to “purified” CBD products.
Scientist last year also discovered “previously unidentified cannabis compounds” called flavorants that they believe are responsible for the unique aromas of different varieties of marijuana. Previously, many had thought terpenes alone were responsible for various smells produced by the plant.
Similar phenomena are also beginning to be recorded around psychedelic plants and fungi. In March, for example, researchers published findings showing that use of full-spectrum psychedelic mushroom extract had a more powerful effect than chemically synthesized psilocybin alone. They said the findings imply that mushrooms, like cannabis, demonstrate an entourage effect.
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A new scientific review on the potential benefits of marijuana in treating brain disorders says that in addition to THC and CBD produced by the cannabis plant, “a diverse array of lesser-known phytocannabinoids, along with terpenes, flavonoids, and alkaloids” may also “demonstrate diverse pharmacological activities” and could offer therapeutic applications. Such compounds include THCV, CBDV Read More