Cannabis compound may be good option to opioids for pain relief

Canada: Molecules present in the cannabis plant were found to be 3o times more effective than aspirin at reducing inflammation, according to a new study published in the journal Phytochemistry. Their findings may help provide a solution to the opioid crisis, providing natural pain relief with minimal side effects. Opioids are commonly prescribed drugs for pain relief.

The compounds are -- Cannflavin A and B -- prenylated flavonoids that are unique to Cannabis sativa. Cannflavins exhibited strong anti-inflammatory properties that can provide pain relief with fewer side effects.

In addition to the presence of a psychoactive substance, there also exist numerous other specialized metabolites in this plant. Tariq A. Akhtar, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, and colleagues focused on two such compounds, known as cannflavin A and cannflavin B, and their biosynthesis.

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"There is a need for the development of alternatives for acute and chronic pain relief, beyond opioids," write the authors. Cannflavins are non-psychoactive and exhibit their action by targeting inflammation at the source, making them the ideal painkillers.

Cannflavins were first discovered more than 30 years ago, but research into cannabis was highly regulated. Now the drug is legal in Canada, more studies are being carried out looking at how effective it might be in treating health issues.

Chronic pain sometimes requires treatment with strong opioids which block the brain’s pain receptors. However, the use of opioids carries a significant risk of developing an addiction to drugs.

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Relying on cannabis plants to treat pain could provide a useful alternative. The university is proceeding to trying to find a way of extracting the anti-inflammatory properties from the plant. The researchers will also need to test different doses to see how effective the treatment may be.

To read the complete study follow the link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2019.05.009