Researchers from Stellenbosch University in South Africa have announced the unprecedented discovery of a rare class of phenolic compounds, known as flavoalkaloids, in cannabis leaves. 

The study identified 79 phenolic compounds in three commercially cultivated varieties, with 25 never before reported in the plant. 

The results were published in the Journal of Chromatography. According to lead researcher Magriet Muller, the detection of these compounds was made possible through the use of advanced two-dimensional liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry techniques. 

She explained that while flavonoids are common in the plant kingdom, flavoalkaloids are extremely rare, and finding them in cannabis was considered an encouraging outcome.

Advancement for Pharmaceutical Research

Phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids, are valued by the pharmaceutical industry for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. The discovery of flavoalkaloids enhances the understanding of the chemical complexity of cannabis, which already has over 750 identified metabolites.

Co-author of the study, Professor André de Villiers, believes this work paves the way for new therapeutic applications. He highlighted that the analysis shows there is still much to be explored in cannabis beyond cannabinoids and that this non-cannabinoid phenolic profile may be highly relevant for biomedical research.

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An important point emphasized by the scientists is that flavoalkaloids were mainly found in the leaves of only one of the analyzed strains, parts usually treated as waste. For researchers, this reinforces the need for further in-depth studies considering the medicinal potential of all plant material from cannabis.

With information from Cannabis Health News.