Scientists come to learn that cannabis makes molecules 30 times more effective than aspirin

Cannabis is a complex plant with a complex history. It has been grown for at least 6,000 years, but because of its modern legal status, we are still learning new things about its medicinal benefits.

Although most of us have heard of cannabinoids relieving the pain of the plant, such as CBD, there is a lesser known clbad of compounds that deserves our attention.

Flavonoids are a group of natural substances that are thought to possess anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties. These compounds are found in fruits, vegetables, flowers, tea, wine and even cannabis.

In 1986, researcher Marilyn Barrett of the University of London was the first to identify two cannabis flavonoids, known as cannflavine A and cannflavine B, both of which have anti-inflammatory effects 30 times more effective as aspirin.

However, while the flavonoid pathway has been extensively studied in several other plants, there is no specific data on their biosynthesis in cannabis for decades. For the first time, Canadian researchers have discovered how cannabis produces these important badgesic molecules.

"Our goal was to better understand how these molecules are made, which is a relatively simple exercise these days," says Tariq Akhtar, a molecular and cell biologist at the University of Guelph.

"There are many sequenced genomes available to the public, including the genome of Cannabis sativa, which can be extracted for information. If you know what you're looking for, you can give life to the genes, so to speak, and reconstruct how molecules such as cannflavins A and B are badembled. "

Using a combination of genomics and biochemistry techniques, the team was able to identify the genes responsible for creating these two cannflavines. Their discoveries provide the first evidence of a unique genetic pathway in Cannabis sativa plants, which use two enzymes to finally create cannflavine A and B.

Extracting and purifying these compounds from a cannabis plant, however, is simply not practical. Akhtar epxlained to The Toronto Star that these cannflavines represent only about 0.014% of the weight of the plant, so one should cultivate cannabis fields in order to take advantage of these anti-inflammatory benefits.

As a result, researchers hope to use this new information to develop their own badgesic drug outside the cannabis plant. To do so, they will collaborate with Anahit International Corp., a Toronto-based company that has already obtained a license for a patent from their university.

"The problem with these molecules is that they are present in cannabis at such low levels, it's impossible to try turning cannabis into a plant to create more of these substances," says Steven Rothstein, co -author, who studies the molecular and genetic qualities of plants grown at the University of Guelph.

"We are currently working on the development of a biological system to create these molecules, which would allow us to develop large amounts of engineering."

Without some of the side effects of other painkillers, the authors believe that the synthesis of these molecules could make all the difference in the pharmaceutical industry.

Previous studies have shown that the vast majority of patients prefer cannabis to opioids to manage their pain, suggesting that there is a considerable market for a drug that mimics its benefits.

"There is a clear need to develop alternatives for the relief of acute and chronic pain that goes beyond opioids," Akhtar said.

"These molecules are not psychoactive and target inflammation at the source, making them ideal pain killers."

The search was published in phytochemistry.