[ad_1]
Liverwort could give you the same kind of relief from pain and inflammation – the less strong.
Liverwort is a foam-like plant that most people would neglect. Scientifically known as Radula perrottetii, this plant is native to a few countries and grows exclusively in Japan, New Zealand and Costa Rica.
Although its modest appearance may seem generally unimpressive, the hepatic is actually the only other plant – with the exception of Cannabis sativa – that produces a cannabinoid substance. The plant contains a chemical called perrottetinene, which is related to tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, found in cannabis.
Discovered for the first time in 1994 by Japanese scientists, the THC-related substance contained in the liver was at the center of a new study that the plant could be used as an effective painkiller – powerful enough to compete with marijuana for medical purposes.
According to Science Daily, Swiss researchers have studied the analgesic properties of perrottetinene and discovered that it is potentially "more medically effective than cannabis."
"It is amazing that only two species of plants, separated by 300 million years of evolution, produce psychoactive cannabinoids," said lead author of the study, Jürg Gertsch, Researcher at the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine of the University of Bern in Switzerland.
As Science News points out, only three hepatic species are known to produce perrottetinene. The compound appears to be slightly less psychoactive than THC and may even have superior analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.
"This natural substance has a lower psychoactive effect and, at the same time, it is able to inhibit inflammatory processes in the brain," said lead author of the study, Andrea Chicca, also of the University of Bern.
A foam-like plant can help relieve pain more than medical marijuana – https://t.co/uoPRzOyU81 https://t.co/Z9WjP8E2CG
– Diego Pellicer (@_DiegoPellicer_) October 27, 2018
The new findings suggest that hepatitis may provide relief from the pain and inflammation provided by marijuana for medical purposes – less the same kind of high consumption. The study also shows that perrottetinene could produce fewer negative side effects than THC, such as memory loss and impaired coordination.
"Radula's preparations are sold as legal substances, similar to cannabinoids, even though the pharmacological data is lacking," the authors wrote in their article published this week in the journal Science Advances.
The plant generates only a small amount of perrottetinene. It has therefore been difficult to study the properties of this cannabinoid substance in the past. However, the Swiss team has developed a synthetic version of the compound and tested its effects on mice and cells of the human brain.
After monitoring the pain response, body temperature, and animal movements, the scientists found that perrottetinene very easily reached the brain and activated the cannabinoid receptors. In addition, the cannabis-like substance contained in hepatitis of the liver has been shown to have a more potent anti-inflammatory effect on the brain than THC, reports the UPI.
"Nobody really notices [liverworts] because they are so small, "says Douglas Kinghorn, Phytochemist at Ohio State University in Columbus, who did not participate in the study. "You sometimes find important medicinal compounds in plants from unexpected sources."
The original article can be found by clicking here
[ad_2]
Source link
