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Special glands protruding from cannabis flowers express a series of unique molecules. Cannabinoids, as they are known, exist in cannabis.  But it turns out that identical molecules are present in non-cannabis plants, as well.  Researchers from Israel’s Weizmann Institute recently reported that they found cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) and other rare cannabinoids in Helichrysum umbraculigerum, a perennial shrub informally known as the woolly umbrella.1

A South African Botanical

Ferdinand Bohlmann and Evelyn Hoffman first discussed the chemical irregularity of Helichrysum. In a 1979 paper published in Phytochemistry2, they analyzed the South African species H. umbraculigerum, native to the eastern part of the country, where it was used in traditional medicine and fumigation rituals.

Bohlmann and Hoffman asserted that the plant’s tops — both leaves and flowers — produce cannabis-specific compounds. But a follow-up study conducted by Italian researchers in 2017 failed to find CBG or its acidic precursor in H. umbraculigerum flowers. They did, however, identify an analog of CBG known as Heli-CBG (also present in some fiber hemp varietals), which binds to the CB2 cannabinoid receptor.3,4

In a May 2023 article in Nature Plants, Weissman Institute scientists confirmed that woolly umbrella produces CBGA in trichomes on its leaves, but hardly any CBGA was present on its flowers. That’s different from cannabis, where CBGA and other cannabinoids are concentrated in trichomes on flower tops.1

Trichomes found on cannabis inflorescence (flowers) have a special cellular build, according to a 2022 study by University of British Columbia researchers in Current Biology. The gland’s bulbous head holds large porous cells that let acidic cannabinoids (CBGA, CBDA, THCA, etc.) move through the trichome.5 The Weizmann Institute team reported that H. umbraculigerum produces a similar cannabinoid transport network on its leaves.1

CBD (cannabidiol) has gained attention for its potential benefits in skincare, including addressing scars. While scientific research is still limited, CBD may offer some potential advantages for scar appearance and skin health. Here's how CBD may be beneficial for scars: Anti-inflammatory properties: CBD has demonstrated anti-inflammatory propertie...

Hemp paper refers to paper that is made from the fibers of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). Hemp has been used for paper production for centuries and has several unique characteristics that make it an attractive alternative to traditional wood-based paper. Here is some information about hemp paper: Sustainability: Hemp is a highly sustainable crop...

Hemp can be used as an insulating material in various forms, including hemp fiber insulation and hempcrete. Here are some key points about hemp as an insulating material: Thermal Insulation: Hemp insulation materials, such as hemp fiber insulation, have excellent thermal insulating properties. They can help regulate indoor temperature, reducing the...

Hemp bath bombs are bath products that contain hemp-derived ingredients, typically in the form of hemp seed oil or hemp extract. These bath bombs are designed to enhance your bathing experience and provide potential benefits associated with hemp. Here's some information about hemp bath bombs: Hemp-Derived Ingredients: Hemp bath bombs contain hemp-d...

CBD (cannabidiol) has been suggested to have potential benefits for alleviating symptoms associated with seasonal allergies, but more research is needed to fully understand its effectiveness in this regard. While CBD may not directly target the underlying causes of allergies, it might help manage certain symptoms through its interactions with the b...

Recently I was chatting with a friend who is casually interested in psychedelic science. He told me he hadn’t read as much coverage of psychedelics in popular magazines and other mainstream outlets lately, and asked whether research has slowed. My response? Not at all.

According to Pubmed, the online repository of the National Library of Medicine, last year saw far more papers published on psychedelics than ever before — about 33% more than in 2021, which itself was a 19% increase over 2020. And this year is well on pace to surpass 2022.

Every day another email arrives in my inbox with word about the latest papers, many of which address the promise of psychedelic-assisted therapy for depression, addiction, PTSD, and other mental health disorders.

But dig deep into the scientific literature and you’ll find plenty of outliers and oddities that have nothing to do with therapy per se, covering fascinating subjects like psychedelics for headaches or color-blindness; “entity” encounters; and the still-mysterious question of what, exactly, these compounds do to the brain.

Mood-Elevating Microdosing

Whether microdosing psychedelics can help people in meaningful ways independent of the placebo effect continues to be a subject of debate. A March 2023 paper in the journal Biological Psychiatry1 adds to the discourse by reporting that in a placebo-controlled study of 40 healthy male volunteers, microdosing LSD improved self-reported ratings of creativity, connectedness, energy, happiness, irritability, and wellness on dose days relative to non-dose days. However, microdosing was not sufficient to promote enduring changes to overall mood or cognition. Nor was it entirely harmless. Seven of the 40 participants reported treatment-related anxiety, and four dropped out as a result.

CBD (cannabidiol) has been shown to have some antimicrobial properties, which means it can help to kill or inhibit the growth of certain microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Research has found that CBD can be effective against various strains of bacteria, including MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), which is resi...

Hemp is a versatile plant that has been used for thousands of years for various purposes, including as a textile. Hemp fibers are long, strong, and durable, making them ideal for use in clothing, accessories, and other textile products. There are several advantages to using hemp as a textile material. First, hemp is naturally resistant to pests and...

Caryophyllene is a terpene that is commonly found in many plants, including black pepper, cloves, and hops. It is also found in many strains of cannabis, and is known to have a spicy, peppery aroma. One unique aspect of caryophyllene is that it is the only known terpene that can interact with the body's endocannabinoid system (ECS) by binding to CB...

This transcript is adapted from CannMed’s weekly podcast, hosted by Ben Amirault, who recently interviewed Bonni Goldstein, MD, one of the country’s most respected and experienced medical cannabis physicians. Dr. Goldstein has treated thousands of patients with medical cannabis. She is the medical director of Canna-Centers Wellness & Education and the clinical advisor to Cannformatics. She is also the author of Cannabis is Medicine: How Medical Cannabis and CBD are Healing Everything from Anxiety to Chronic Pain. Dr. Goldstein will be leading the Medical Practicum at CannMed 2023 (May 15-17), where she will also be speaking about CBG and other minor cannabinoids during the main session.

Ben Amirault, CannMed: I wanted to discuss one of the so-called minor compounds that you’ll be covering during your talk at CannMed this month. You have said that cannabigerol, or CBG, is one of your favorite cannabinoids. Why?

Dr. Goldstein: It appears that CBG does a lot of things that THC does and a lot of things that CBD does — but maybe even a little bit better. It’s kind of a bridge between THC and CBD. CBG is not intoxicating or impairing. It seems to be effective at lower doses compared to CBD. And it does appear to address some of the main issues that people turn to cannabis for — inflammation, pain, anxiety, sleep problems, depression, and cancer. So, like it checks all the boxes, especially for people who don’t want to get high and who don’t have the ability to pay for very high doses of CBD.

CannMed: It’s interesting that you say CBG is a bridge between THC and CBD. Is that because CBG is a precursor for the other plant cannabinoids?

Dr. Goldstein: CBG’s parent compound, cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), is kind of known as the mother of all the cannabinoids in that it’s the compound that’s found in immature cannabis flower. And then, based on the genetics of the plant and the enzymes that it’s exposed to, CBGA changes into CBDA and/or THCA, which turn into CBD and THCA when heated. CBGA hasn’t really been studied very much. I would say it is highly understudied. But I suspect that we will eventually find out that CBGA has some very interesting anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. We don’t know really know yet. But at least CBG is being studied. I constantly look at the scientific literature, and just this year there’s a study published from Israel on how CBG may be helpful for multiple sclerosis. And there’s another study that looked at CBG’s mechanism of action in terms of how it works for pain and inflammation. So, there’s a lot of interest in CBG, which is really exciting.

Cannabinol (CBN) is a minor cannabinoid found in cannabis plants. It is produced when tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is oxidized, either through exposure to heat or over time. CBN is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, meaning it does not produce the "high" associated with THC. Here are some potential benefits and uses of CBN: Sleep aid: CBN is believed to...

In 2013, Noriko Shinjyo, Ph.D., a Research Associate at Chiba University in Japan, coauthored a study with Italian scientist Vincenzo Di Marzo on cannabichromene (CBC), a phytocannabinoid that exerts profound effects on the nervous system.1

Published in Neurochemistry International, their paper probed how CBC influences the fate of adult neural stem progenitor cells, which are described as “an essential component of brain function in health as well as in pathology.” As stem cells mature, they change and differentiate into new neurons and other cells. CBC was shown to have a positive effect on neural stem progenitor cells during their maturation phase, according to in vitro research.

Recently a different group of scientists has followed up on this decade-old discovery by delineating seven mechanisms through which CBC is able to protect and regenerate the nervous system. They reported their findings in Life, a Swiss scientific journal, noting that CBC, a “neurogenesis enhancer,” enables stem cells “to sustain their viability and differentiation.”2

What Are Neural Stem Cells?

Scientists have identified specific areas of the brain — the hippocampus and the lateral ventricles — where neural stem cells are created. These cells undergo a maturation process, known as differentiation, which is an important stage for young cells located in the spinal cord, brainstem, and brain regions programmed for muscle control. Young stem cells evolve into new neurons, but they can also form cells that comprise the protective sheath surrounding nerves.

Some neural stem cells differentiate into astroglial cells, also known as astrocytes. These abundant star-shaped cells populate the grey and white matter of the brain, where they regulate cerebral blood flow and the transmission of electrical impulses. They also play a crucial role in maintaining the blood-brain barrier and repairing the brain and spinal cord following an infection or a traumatic injury.

CBD, or cannabidiol, has been found to have potential benefits for treating muscle aches or soreness. It is believed that CBD interacts with the body's endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in regulating pain and inflammation. CBD may help to reduce muscle aches or soreness by decreasing inflammation in the affected area. It has been found to ...

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant that has been gaining popularity in recent years for its potential benefits in managing chronic pain. While research on the efficacy of CBD for chronic pain is still ongoing, some studies have shown promising results. One study published in the European Journal of Pain ...

Cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 are the definitive and best-known targets of endogenous and plant-derived cannabinoids, but they’re far from the only ones.

Several phytocannabinoids, including cannabidiol (CBD), for example, and the two primary endocannabinoids — anandamide and 2-AG — have been shown to interact with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, or PPARs1 (pronounced pee-parrs), which are found on the surface of the cell’s nucleus. This may help to explain how CBD, which has little affinity for either CB1 or CB2, can do so much.

Get to Know the PPARs

PPARs are a group of nuclear receptors that play important roles in regulating metabolism, inflammation, and gene expression. Triggered by hormones, endocannabinoids, and other fatty acid derivatives, and various nutritional compounds,2 PPARs are expressed in different parts of the body:

PPAR-a (PPAR-alpha) is found in the liver, kidney, heart, and skeletal muscle, as well as adipose (fat) tissue and the intestinal tract;PPAR-b (PPAR-delta) is expressed in adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, heart, and liver; andPPAR-y (PPAR-gamma), which comes in two forms, is expressed in almost all tissues of the body including the colon, the cardiovascular system, and immune cells.

The first evidence of an endocannabinoid interacting with PPARs came in 2002, when a research team in Tennessee showed that a metabolite of 2-AG activated PPAR-a.3 Since then many more breakthroughs have been made, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors are now viewed as an extension of the classic endocannabinoid system (ECS).

PPARs are now viewed as an extension of the classic endocannabinoid system.

Linalool is a terpene commonly found in cannabis, as well as in many other plants such as lavender, mint, and cinnamon. It has a floral, slightly spicy aroma and is often used in perfumes, soaps, and other fragrances. In cannabis, linalool is often found in indica strains and is believed to contribute to their calming and sedative effects. It is al...

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a natural compound found in the cannabis plant that has been shown to have potential health benefits. While research is still limited, some studies suggest that CBD may be beneficial for hair health. One way that CBD may help with hair is by reducing inflammation on the scalp. Inflammation is a common cause of hair loss and ...

CBD (cannabidiol) has become a popular ingredient in skincare products due to its potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Here are some ways that CBD may benefit the skin: Anti-inflammatory effects: CBD has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce redness, swelling, and irritation in the skin. This make...

CBD (cannabidiol) has been found to have potential benefits for migraines, although more research is needed to fully understand its effects. Migraines are a type of headache that can be severe and debilitating, and they can be difficult to treat with traditional medications. CBD is a compound derived from the cannabis plant that has been shown to h...