- January 22, 2025
Cannabinoids are the name of any chemical substance, regardless of its origin or structure, which combines cannabinoid receptors of the body and brain and which have similar effects to those produced by cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.). We know that this is a large and varied group of substances that can be classified in several ways, however, the one that allows us to understand their enormous diversity is as follows:
This is the name of a type of compound that is characterized by 21 carbon atoms. In nature, they only occur in cannabis. Around 70 phytocannabinoids have already been discovered, including acid and neutral. A cannabis plant is able to synthesize phytocannabinoids directly into non-psychoactive forms. Therefore, the main phytocannabinoids found in raw plants are Δ9-THCA, CBDA, CBGA and CBCA. However, the carboxylic group is very unstable and easily loses COOH when exposed to heat or light, transforming it from acidic to neutral. Acidic phytocannabinoids lose the most in the process of drying and hardening buds. Therefore, a significant drying of the plant material causes the acidic concentration to decrease very much and the neutral concentration to increase.
The methods normally used for decarboxylation of small quantities of plant material of hemp (up to 20 g) are to place them in an oven at 120 °C for at least 20 minutes. Cooking cannabis in butter or oil will also initiate this process. It is interesting that most of the phytocannabinoids tested, including Δ9-THC, in their neutral form are mainly responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis use, and such properties do not show acidic form (Δ9-THCA).
Endocannabinoids are produced by almost all beings. These are natural compounds produced by human and animal organisms that combine cannabinoid receptors. Endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors belong to the endocannabinoid system, which takes part in various physiological processes such as control of neurotransmitter release, pain sensation, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal effects. The two main endocannabinoids are covered in anandamide. Endocannabinoids are molecules that act as the key to natural cannabinoid receptors (mainly CB1 and CB2) - they cause their activation and subsequent reactions. CB1 is mostly found in the central nervous system. CB2 is primarily located in the immune system and is responsible for supporting immune processes. CB2 receptors have recently been discovered in the central nervous system, in microglia cells, so they also overeat to affect the work of neurons. However, this issue has not yet been adequately addressed and is therefore very controversial.
The main difference between phyto/endocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids is that the latter are fully synthetic and are created from scratch in the laboratory. An example of this is dronabinol (synthetic Δ9-THC), which is an active compound in MARINOLU®, a drug that has been available since 1985 and is taken to avoid nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and weight. Another example is nabilon, the active substance CESAMET®, a drug used against nausea and vomiting that accompanies chemotherapy. Both medicinal products have been approved for this purpose in the USA, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Canada and Spain. There is not much information on the effects of synthetic cannabinoids on humans, although some of them have already been studied and it can be concluded that they cause more stress and panic than phytocannabinoids. Synthetic cannabinoids are designed as research tools for cannabinoids, so theoretically they should never leave the laboratory where they are designed and synthesized.
Most scientists assume that phytocannabinoids are fully synthesized and stored in small structures called trichinosis glands. The hairs are present in almost all of the aboveground part of the plant. These structures, together with the cannabinoids, are also found in terpenes (monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes), which vary according to the species and determine its aroma. This is why pharmacology experts consider hairs to be the most important and interesting part of a medical marijuana plant.
Researchers of cannabis talk about two types of hairs (simple, single-celled and those called 'natural killers') that are not related to terpenic synthesis. Three types of hair glands were found in female cannabis plants: tuberous, sedentary and bulbous. It was shown that in male cannabis there is still a fourth gland in the stamens.
Even if hairs can be found in every plant, the highest concentration of phytocannabinoids is found in the female inflorescences (up to 25%). This type of hair appears during flowering and forms the thickest layer on the surface of the flower. High concentrations of hair glands can also be found in small leaves, smaller in the stem and larger leaves, but not in the root at all. There are no qualitative differences in phytocannabinoids between different parts of the plant, only quantitative. The role of phytocannabinoids in plants is not clear. The most likely hypothesis is that they have defensive properties against biotic (insects, bacteria and fungi) and abiotic (drying and ultraviolet radiation) factors.
Neither the route nor the location of the biosynthesis of phytocannabinoids is fully known, but some scientists suggest that this is done in specialised thyroid cells that appear in the hair glands. They are then accumulated in the adjacent cavity and finally emitted as resins.
Cannabis plants or medical cannabis plants contain many phytocannabinoids that have little or no psychoactive effect on the body, so from a therapeutic point of view they can be much more promising than Δ9-THC.
CBD is the most important of the non-psychoactive phytocannabinoids, it has numerous health properties. It has been clinically proven to be beneficial for anxiety disorders, psychosis and depression, as well as to alleviate neuropathic pain in people suffering from multiple sclerosis. Many studies also indicate the anticancer effect of cannabidiol.
CBDA does not combine CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, although it is a selective anti-inflammatory COX-2 inhibitor. However, it can be combined with vanilla receptors, its effects are not yet fully known.
CBG has an anti-cancer and antibacterial effect. It is a ligand of the cannabinoid receptor CB2 and an inhibitor of reabsorption of anandamide. In addition, it is a ligand of vanilla receptors.
CBC can cause decreased activity, hypothermia and peace of mind. It also has an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and analgesic effect. Moreover, it is a strong vanilla receptor antagonist and a weak inhibitor of reabsorption of anandamide.
