Scientists have discovered cannabidiol, a compound in cannabis known as CBD, in a common Brazilian plant. That may open new avenues to produce the popular cannabis compound.
The team discovered CBD in the fruits and flowers of a plant known as Trema micrantha blume, a shrub that grows throughout much of the South American country and is often considered a weed, molecular biologist Rodrigo Moura Neto of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro to AFP.
Cheaper source for CBD
CBD, increasingly used by some to treat conditions such as epilepsy, chronic pain and anxiety, is one of the main active compounds in cannabis, along with tetrahydrocannabinol or THC – the compound that makes users feel high.
The compound's effectiveness as a medical treatment is still under investigation. Neto said chemical analysis showed that “Trema” contains CBD but no THC. “It is a legal alternative to using cannabis. This is a plant that grows throughout Brazil. It could be a simpler and cheaper source of cannabidiol.” Scientists have previously found CBD in a related plant in Thailand.
Neto, who has not yet published his results, said he now plans to scale up his study to identify the best methods to extract CBD from "Trema" and analyze its effectiveness in patients with conditions currently being treated with medicinal cannabis.
Brazilian government subsidizes research
His team recently won a 500.000 real (US$104.000) grant from the Brazilian government to fund the research, which he says will take at least five years. A study last year by market analysis firm Vantage Market Research estimated the global market for CBD at nearly $5 billion, predicting it would grow to more than $2028 billion by 47, driven primarily by health and wellness use.
Source: sciencealert.com (EN)
