Scientists say cannabis leaves contain rare compounds with medical benefits

Researchers at Stellenbosch University found a rare type of compound in cannabis leaves, suggesting that the plant has greater chemical diversity and potential value than was once thought. The study identified flavoalkaloids, a group of phenolic compounds rarely found in nature, for the first time in cannabis.

By studying three types of cannabis grown in South Africa, scientists found 79 phenolic compounds, including 25 that had not been seen in cannabis before. Sixteen of these, mostly found in the leaves of one strain, were likely flavoalkaloids. The results, published in the Journal of Chromatography A, show that cannabis varieties can have very different chemical makeups.

The research team used advanced tools to separate and identify the compounds, combining two-dimensional liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry. These methods helped them find tiny amounts of compounds that are usually hard to spot because they are rare and complex. The scientists said their results suggest that cannabis leaves, which are often thrown away, could be a new source of useful compounds for medicine, especially beyond the well-known cannabinoids.

Source: Science Daily