Analytical chemists at Stellenbosch University have made an exciting discovery regarding cannabis leaves. They’ve found a rare group of compounds in the plant, known as flavoalkaloids. This research highlights the potential value of parts of the cannabis plant often considered waste.
In their study, the team identified 79 phenolic compounds in three different cannabis strains grown in South Africa. Interestingly, 25 of these compounds had never been reported in cannabis before, and 16 were identified as flavoalkaloids. What’s intriguing is that these compounds mostly appeared in the leaves of just one strain. The findings were shared in the Journal of Chromatography A.
Dr. Magriet Muller, the lead researcher and an analytical chemist, explained that examining plant phenolics can be tricky due to their low concentrations and varied structures. “Cannabis is incredibly complex—it has over 750 metabolites—so we didn’t expect to find such diversity in phenolic profiles across just three strains,” she noted.
Her methods were originally developed for analyzing rooibos tea, grapes, and wine. Understanding the cannabis plant’s phenolics could pave the way for new medicinal applications, especially since so much research has focused solely on its cannabinoid properties.
Prof. André de Villiers, her study leader, expressed his surprise at the chromatographic results. He mentioned that the advanced techniques used allowed for a clear separation of flavoalkaloids from the more common flavonoids, which is why these rare compounds were detected for the first time in cannabis.
This discovery opens up new avenues for exploring the medicinal benefits of cannabis, especially aspects that have been overlooked. Some believe there’s a significant role for phenolics in future biomedical research, emphasizing that we have only scratched the surface of what the cannabis plant has to offer.
As the conversation about cannabis evolves, awareness of its diverse compounds may increase. Knowing that cannabis leaves hold valuable compounds could encourage more sustainable practices in the industry, urging businesses to reconsider how they handle and utilize all parts of the plant.
For further insights on this groundbreaking research, you can check the full paper here: Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatographic analysis of Cannabis phenolics.
Source link
Science, Physics News, Science news, Technology News, Physics, Materials, Nanotech, Technology, Science
