Flavonoids, like terpenes, are natural compounds found in all plants and have a variety of medicinal properties. Research reveals that some flavonoids in cannabis are 30 times more effective at decreasing inflammation than aspirin, according to preliminary findings.
ARE THEY BETTER OFF AS A COMMUNITY?
Research like this demonstrates that cannabis is a complex drug with many different components, each of which may contribute to the substance’s overall potential. The chemicals found in the study – cannflavin A and cannflavin B – are extremely potent, but they are produced in such little quantities in nature that they are not useful in medicinal applications.
A collaboration between researchers and the cannabis corporation Anahit International Corp. is being pursued with the goal of developing and harvesting huge quantities of cannflavin A and cannflavin B. Researchers would then be able to experiment with incorporating these compounds into products such as sports drinks, tablets, lotions, and other such items. Despite the fact that this would be an interesting invention in and of itself, it might also serve as a trustworthy alternative to popular pain treatments, such as pills derived from opioids.
Scientists have been able to trace the formation of these molecules for the first time, which indicates that the research on these compounds has great potential. This means that the first stages toward figuring out how to synthesize these chemicals have been completed, which is extremely encouraging for the development of pharmaceuticals containing cannflavins in the future.
However, until these molecules can be produced in sufficient amounts, they will be unable to function on their own as a viable alternative. Instead, they appear to function best when used in the setting in which they naturally occur: as a component of the cannabis plant.
Flavonoids in cannabis, on the other hand, are not limited to these two components. Flavonoids, in conjunction with terpenes, are responsible for the flavor and taste of cannabis strains. Flavonoids, like terpenes, are found in all plants, from citrus to pepper, and are beneficial to human health.
SELECTING THE APPROPRIATE ENTOURAGE
Historically, the notion that natural cannabis flower, or ‘full spectrum’ products, which contain the complete profile of extracted cannabis, are good for medical use has been around for a long time. This notion, on the other hand, has evolved over time. When it was first coined in 1998 by a group of scientists, the term “entourage effect” was used to describe a notion that is still widely used today. It argues that when multiple chemicals are combined, their total effect is greater than the sum of their separate effects.
However, experts’ perspectives on the entourage effect differ, with some believing that full-spectrum products are more difficult to anticipate and may result in harmful side effects. Despite the fact that every strain of cannabis contains a plethora of natural synergy, there are also components in each strain that might produce even opposing consequences.
As an alternative, research suggests that specific combinations of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids would be the most effective therapeutic technique. Consumers may feel overwhelmed by a broad spectrum product if it contains only a single cannabinoid that does not have the same impact as cannabis in some situations. In an ideal world, broad-spectrum formulations would provide the greatest number of advantages while causing the least amount of negative effects.
Finding technologies that can individually analyze and inform on these diverse substances in cannabis, in addition to collecting or synthesizing them, could have a profound impact on the medical marijuana business, according to some experts. This will result in goods that are stunted by their simplicity because they were created without any awareness of the other components of marijuana. Even when CBD and THC are together, they have a considerable synergistic effect, as they can work together to achieve a state of equilibrium between them, thereby increasing their potential.
THE HYPOTHESIS BEHIND THE APPROPRIATE ENTOURAGE RATIO –
Cannabis is a substance that gives to those who use it. Instead of terpenes, cannabinoids, or flavonoids, what it has to offer is a combination of all three, as well as the complex interactions that occur between them. The synergistic interaction between cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids is only now beginning to be understood by scientists.
Researchers and manufacturers use high-performance liquid chromatography to separately isolate and test the quantities of terpenes, cannabinoids, and flavonoids present in cannabis. Research that makes use of these findings could be great for determining the optimal combinations of different cannabis components for medical use in the future.
Although technology exists to examine these characteristics of the plant, appropriately managing these characteristics of the plant to produce the most efficient treatment would be revolutionary. It would transform the entourage effect from something that makes cannabis enjoyable into something that explains why cannabis is a directly relevant and strong medicine.