Researchers Discover Two New Cannabinoids
[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]A[/dropcap] team of investigators from the University of Salento in Lecce, Italy discovered two new phytocannabinoids—THCP and CBDP—according to the results of a recent study. The findings were published on Dec. 30, 2019 and published in the journal Scientific Reports.
The new cannabinoids were determined to have a higher cannabimimetic activity than Delta-9-THC or having similar pharmacological effects to those of cannabis. Researchers learned that THCP may bind to CB1 receptors better than THC—leading to the idea that it could be highly beneficial for medical purposes.
“THCP is endowed of an even higher binding affinity for CB1 receptor and a greater cannabimimetic activity than THC itself,” wrote researchers. A” novel phytocannabinoid isolated from Cannabis sativa L. with an in vivo cannabimimetic activity higher than Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol: Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabiphorol.”
Good news for 2020! Two novel phytocannabinoids, THCP and CBDP are isolated!! 2020 will be more exciting! #cannabinoids #CannabisCommunity https://t.co/77Lk2DwnxL
— Dinesh Thapa (@DeanAcee) January 1, 2020
Furthermore, Delta-9-THCP was determined to be 30 times more potent than Delta-9-THC. “The biological results obtained in the in vitro binding assay indicated an affinity for CB1 receptor more than thirty-fold higher compared to the one reported for Delta-9-THC in the literature,” continued researchers.
The other compound that was examined, CBDP, didn’t show very much promise as it didn’t bind well to CB1 and CB2 receptors. More testing is expected to determine THCP’s properties when used for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-epileptic purposes.
The evidence suggests that THCP might explain why broad spectrum products work better than pure THC products. “In the cannabinoid tetrad pharmacological test, Delta-9-THCP induced hypomotility, analgesia, catalepsy and decreased rectal temperature indicating a THC-like cannabimimetic activity,” the study continued. “The presence of this new phytocannabinoid could account for the pharmacological properties of some cannabis varieties difficult to explain by the presence of the sole Delta-9-THC.”
About 150 phytocannabinoids, or naturally occurring cannabinoids, have been discovered at this point. The study goes on to prove that there are addition cannabinoids that we haven’t discovered yet that remain in the cannabis plant.
