Cannabidiol is found in a common plant in Brazil – 06/15/2023 – Science

Scientists have discovered cannabidiol, an active compound found in marijuana, in a plant species common in Brazil, paving the way for possible new ways of producing this substance for medicinal use, said the leader of the research this Thursday (15).

Researchers found cannabidiol, or CBD, in the fruits and flowers of a plant called trema micrantha blumea fast-growing shrub that is found in much of Brazil and is often considered a weed, Rodrigo Moura Neto, a biologist at UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro), who led the study, told AFP.

CBD, which has no hallucinogenic effects and is increasingly used to treat conditions such as epilepsy, motor disorders, chronic pain and anxiety, is one of the main active compounds in cannabis.

The other is tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, the substance that causes psychoactive effects in marijuana users.

The scientists’ chemical analysis revealed that Trema contains CBD but not THC, which suggests the possibility of a new abundant source of this compound, Neto said.

This species would not face the legal and regulatory obstacles that affect marijuana, which is prohibited in many countries, including Brazil.

“It is a legal alternative to the use of cannabinoids”, said the biologist.

“It is a plant that is already spread throughout Brazil. It would be an easier and cheaper source of obtaining cannabidiol”, he added.

CBD had already been found by scientists in a plant of the same family in Thailand.

Neto, who has yet to formally publish the results of his research to the scientific community, plans to expand his study to identify the best methods of extracting Trema CBD and analyze its effectiveness in patients with conditions currently treated with medical marijuana.

His team recently received R$500,000 in government funding to support research, which will require at least another five years.

A study last year by market research firm Vantage Market Research estimated the global CBD market to be worth nearly $5 billion (about RS25 billion at the time) and projected growth to over $47 billion. (BRL 226.6 billion) by 2028, mainly driven by use in health and well-being.