Heavyweight! Discovered two new cannabinoids THCP and CBDP, which are 30 times more potent than THC!

At the end of 2019, Italian scientists discovered two new cannabinoids from cannabis plants, named THCP and CBDP, namely Cannabidophorol and Tetrahydrocannabiphorol. This study was published in the December 30, 2019 issue of Scientific Reports.

Newly Discovered Cannabinoids THCP and CBDP

More than 150 types of cannabinoids have been found in cannabis plants, but most research has focused on THC and CBD cannabinoids, and even "many cannabinoids have not been isolated or identified in cannabis plants

But these two new cannabinoids THCP and CBDP have been "isolated and fully identified" by researchers, and "stereoselective synthesis has confirmed this configuration." These two newly discovered cannabinoids are close to THC and CBD, respectively, but tests have found that THCP is 30 times more potent than THC.

Neocannabinoids

The reason why cannabinoids can act on the body is because there is an endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) in our body, which regulates physiological functions such as pain, stress, appetite, energy, cardiovascular function, reward perception, reproduction, and sleep.

ECS is divided into three parts: cannabinoid receptors, endogenous cannabinoids, and enzymes that break them down. Cannabinoids affect the ECS system by acting on cannabinoid receptors (CB1, CB2) throughout the body, thereby regulating various bodily functions. Please refer to the previous manuscript 'Understanding the Endogenous Cannabinoids System to Understand the Value of Medical Cannabis!'

New Cannabinoids

In the testing of mice, injecting low doses of THCP is much more active than injecting THC. Further research has found that THCP has an affinity for CB1 receptors that is more than 30 times higher than known THCs. Researchers say that the discovery of THCP helps explain the puzzling pharmacological properties of certain cannabis strains, whose pharmacological effects cannot be entirely attributed to the presence of THC.

Binding ability of cannabinoid receptors

Researchers will continue to test the health benefits of THCP cannabinoids in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiepileptic aspects.

The newly discovered cannabinoid CBDP has a weaker ability to bind to cannabinoid receptors CB1 or CB2. But researchers point out that this type of cannabinoid is similar to CBD and has relaxing and sleep aiding effects.

There are still many questions that need to be studied regarding the newly discovered THCP and CBDP, such as, what are the medical effects of each of these two cannabinoids? Which cannabis strain has a higher content? (The hemp strains used by the researchers have low levels of both cannabinoids.) Whether THCP, like THC, would be surprising... but this has opened up a new perspective for medical cannabis research.