Everything you need to know about CBDP
- What is the cannabinoid CBDP?
- Production: is CBDP synthetic?
- Does CBDP have stronger effects than CBD?
- Therapeutic potential
- Side effects
- Table comparing CBDP vs. CBD vs. H4CBD
- Conclusion
What is the cannabinoid CBDP?
Cannabidiophenol, CBDP for short, is a phytocannabinoid that is naturally found in the cannabis plant, but only in minute amounts. Its naming and discovery that it is a natural cannabinoid occurred in 2019 by an Italian group of scientists. This group also revealed to the world the cannabinoid THCP, which they were able to find in different varieties of medicinal cannabis.
These amazing discoveries are being made with state-of-the-art technology such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS).
CBDP is the heptyl homologue of the cannabidiol CBD. The term homologue refers to chemical compounds of the same type with similar chemical structure and properties. While CBDP has a 7-membered side chain, CBD has a 5-membered alkyl side chain.
Production: is CBDP synthetic?
Did you know that CBDP carried the synthetic compound label until 2019? This substance can also be found under the names CBD-C7 and CBD-heptyl. And it is thanks to advanced methods that it has been identified as a natural cannabinoid and also isolated from the cannabis plant.
We already know that CBDP is found in very low concentrations in cannabis, but so far we do not know of any cannabis strains that contain high levels of CBDP, so there is no chance of extracting it directly from cannabis and still having enough for the commercial market.
Therefore, it is produced in the laboratory from a CBD isolate. It is produced by a chemical reaction called isomerisation, in which a molecule, ion or fragment of a molecule is transformed into an isomer that has a different structure.
CBD isolates, or crystals, are the purest form of cannabidiol, containing 96-100% CBD and zero THC. Sometimes terpenes and terpenoids may also be present in small amounts in a CBD isolate.
And because natural CBD serves as the starting material for the production of CBDP, it is referred to as a semi-synthetic cannabinoid.
Does CBDP have stronger effects than CBD?
Users report that it has a stronger effect than CBD and that it is not psychotropic. However, at the moment it is not possible to say for sure how it works in our bodies, what effects it has and its possible therapeutic potential.
In 2018, a study came out that reported that the length of the side chain in cannabinoid compounds can change the binding to cannabinoid receptors, which are found in the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in our body. Specifically, this study suggests that the longer the side chain, the better the binding to the receptors.
Therefore, some believe that it is the difference in the chemical structure of CBDP that causes it to have a better affinity for CB2 receptors (in the immune system, digestive tract and other organs) than CBD.
However, a 2019 study conducted by Italian researchers concluded that CBDP has low binding to both CB2 and CB1 receptors, contradicting the above claim.
There are also suggestions that CBDP, like CBD, has an activating effect on the 5HT1A receptor, a so-called serotonin receptor involved in regulating body temperature and blood pressure, learning processes and anxiety control.
At the moment, we can only wait for research to reveal how effectively CBDP binds to CB1 and CB2 receptors and whether it also acts on other receptors in the body.
Italian researchers want to continue to investigate the properties of CBDP, particularly its antioxidant, antiepileptic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Therapeutic potential
The 2021 study by the same Italian team is certainly worth mentioning. In this study, the researchers looked at the possible potential of CBDP against breast cancer. The study suggested that CBDP acts similarly to CBD, but apparently with greater potency, and it seems that it could help fight breast cancer cells, at least in cell culture.
In this study, researchers examined the biological effects of both CBDP and CBDB compared to natural and synthetic CBD in human breast cancer cells that express (displace) CB2 receptors.
Data from the study showed in detail that treatment of cells with the new phytocannabinoids affects cell viability, increasing the production of free oxygen radicals in the cancer cell, with these radicals being exploited for their cell-killing properties. This reaction takes place only inside the cancer cell and does not interfere with any healthy cells. CBDP also activates cellular pathways related to ROS (reactive oxygen species) signalling, which means that it can stimulate the activity of cellular processes, as has already been shown with natural CBD.
The study also suggested that CBDP could enhance the effect of some cancer drugs already in use.
An interesting finding was that when CBDP was administered together with CBD, it enhanced each of these effects, which could possibly be related to a phenomenon known as the entourage effect, which is characterised by the fact that the effect of individual cannabinoids and other active substances can be enhanced when taken together.
Although the result of this research looks very promising, further research is needed.
Side effects
CBD is widely known to be a well-tolerated and safe substance. Side effects with CBD are rare and are a risk especially at high doses.
As for the side effects of cannabidiol, the most commonly reported in studies are:
- tiredness or drowsiness
- dry mouth
- changes in appetite
- diarrhea
- change of mood
- Dizziness
- abdominal pain
Thus, similar side effects can be expected to occur with CBDP, in particular drowsiness, fatigue, changes in appetite, dry mouth and diarrhoea.
These effects will usually subside within a short period of time and their intensity will depend on several factors such as body proportions, age, health, metabolism and tolerance of the user, dose and also the method of consumption (e.g. vaping, oral administration or transdermal administration).
Table comparing CBDP vs. CBD vs. H4CBD
|
CBDP |
|||
|
Type of compound |
Semi-synthetic cannabinoid |
Natural cannabinoid |
Semi-synthetic cannabinoid |
|
Molecular formula |
C23H34O2 |
C21H30O2 |
C21H34O2 |
|
Occurrence in cannabis |
Yes, just a small amount. |
Yes, the second most abundant cannabinoid in the plant. |
No. |
|
Production process |
It is produced in the laboratory by a process called isomerisation from CBD isolate. |
Extraction from cannabis is carried out using extraction methods:
CBD can also be produced synthetically. |
A CBD derivative, produced by a process called hydrogenation, 4 hydrogen atoms are added to the CBD molecule. |
|
Psychoactive properties |
No |
No |
Available |
|
Possible effects |
It seems to have similar, but probably stronger effects than CBD.
Research is just at the starting line, further research is needed to confirm this.
It seems that it could help fight breast cancer cells, at least in cell culture.
It is to be expected that it could as well as CBD:
|
|
It acts similarly to CBD, but with a more pronounced potency.
He can contribute:
|
|
Side effects |
Similar potential side effects to CBD may occur, in particular:
|
They occur rarely, especially at high doses.
|
|
|
Available products on the market |
|
|
|
|
Legal status in the Czech Republic |
Legal |
Legal |
Legal |
Conclusion
CBDP is a phytocannabinoid that occurs in minute amounts in the cannabis plant. It is produced in the laboratory by a process called isomerisation from an isolate of CBD, hence the term semi-synthetic cannabinoid. It is the heptyl homologue of CBD. While CBD has a 5-membered side chain, CBDP has a 7-membered side chain.
User experience suggests that it is probably more potent than CBD and that it also does not produce a psychoactive effect. However, there is currently a lack of research that thoroughly evaluates how it works in the body, what effects it has and its possible therapeutic potential.
Finally, (semi)synthetic cannabinoids can be more intense than natural ones, increasing the risk of intoxication and overdose, which can eventually lead to a "bad trip".
Other examples of (semi)synthetic compounds include HHC, HHCP, H4CBD, THCP, THCB, THCJD, THCH, HHCH or THCO, which, unlike CBDP, have psychoactive effects.
If you want to ride the wave of cannabis comfort, choose reputable companies that have their products tested in an independent laboratory. And when experimenting with new cannabinoids, always start with the lowest dose possible.
Author: Buds for Buddies
Photo: Shutterstock
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