More research is being done on cannabis now than at any point in recorded history. Scientists are working hard to improve our understanding of what cannabinoids do and how they work in the endocannabinoid system (ECS). There also seem to be a few other plants that contain compounds that can interact in the ECS. In this post, we’ll look at six plants with cannabinoid-like compounds.
The endocannabinoid system is an impressive network of cell receptors and neurotransmitters that essentially helps to keep the body in mental and physical balance. The ECS promotes homeostasis but also has a therapeutic impact on sleep patterns, mood, immune function, appetite, reproductive cycles, and pain, to name a few.
Phytocannabinoid research has soared of late, with the US removing some restrictions, making it difficult for studies to be conducted. Now, scientists have managed to engineer yeasts that can create the enzyme needed to make THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid). THCA is a pre-activated version of THC that doesn’t produce any psychoactive effect in its acidic state. Now, let’s go over these six plants.
However, black truffles do not have any cannabinoid receptors, so it’s a mystery as to why they have evolved to create anandamide. Some believe that these mushrooms make the endocannabinoid lure in other animals, which can then disperse spores for reproductive purposes.
The chemical structure of perrottetinene is like that of THC, and studies suggest that the compound is indeed a cannabimimetic. Therefore, perrotetinene can interact with the ECS as if it were a real cannabinoid. Like THC, this liverwort substance connects with the CB1 receptor. More studies are being carried out as we speak, but unfortunately, nothing has been published regarding CBD spray.
A fair amount of research has been done on plant-based medicine, and we’ve established that there are substances that provide cannabis-like relief in CBD chocolate, black pepper, and more, read here about CBD chocolates. Chemically, these compounds are not cannabinoids, but their similarity to the phytocannabinoids in cannabis and endocannabinoids made naturally by the body means they can still influence.
Phytocannabinoid research has soared of late, with the US removing some restrictions, making it difficult for studies to be conducted. Now, scientists have managed to engineer yeasts that can create the enzyme needed to make THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid). THCA is a pre-activated version of THC that doesn’t produce any psychoactive effect in its acidic state. Now, let’s go over these six plants.
Black truffles
Animals make endocannabinoids while plants make phytocannabinoids (we usually just call them cannabinoids). The effects of these compounds are alike, although not the same.An Italian study incredibly found out that black truffles produce the endocannabinoid anandamide. This essential compound interacts just as if it were a THC molecule (maybe that’s why they are so popular worldwide!) by binding with the CB1 receptor via CBD crystals by CBD genesis. Animals and humans create anandamide.
Japanese and New Zealand liverwort
Research into cannabinoid-like chemicals in liverwort first started almost 20 years. Then, scientists identified compounds in both Japanese and New Zealand liverwort that had similar effects to THC. In Japanese liverwort, there is perottetinene acid, and in New Zealand liverwort, there is perrottetinene.The chemical structure of perrottetinene is like that of THC, and studies suggest that the compound is indeed a cannabimimetic. Therefore, perrotetinene can interact with the ECS as if it were a real cannabinoid. Like THC, this liverwort substance connects with the CB1 receptor. More studies are being carried out as we speak, but unfortunately, nothing has been published regarding CBD spray.
