Scientists at Stellenbosch University (SU) have uncovered the first evidence of a rare group of phenolic compounds known as flavoalkaloids in Cannabis leaves, adding a surprising new dimension to the plant's chemistry.
Phenolic compounds, particularly flavonoids, are already highly valued in medicine for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic effects. This new finding suggests Cannabis may contain even more biologically important compounds than previously recognized.
Dozens of Previously Unknown Cannabis Compounds Identified
In their study, researchers analyzed three commercially grown Cannabis strains from South Africa and identified 79 phenolic compounds. Of these, 25 had never before been reported in Cannabis. Among them were 16 compounds tentatively classified as flavoalkaloids, a group that is rarely found in nature.
Interestingly, these flavoalkaloids were concentrated mainly in the leaves of just one of the strains, highlighting how much chemical variation can exist between different types of Cannabis. The findings were recently published in the Journal of Chromatography A.
