There are over 120 cannabinoids, but which one should you eat? Cannabis is packed with them. Isn’t it amazing how many cannabinoids there are in cannabis? What exactly is a cannabinoid, and how should it be pronounced? Cannabinoids (ka·nuh·buh·noyds) are the natural chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant. THC is the most well-known cannabinoid because of its psychoactive properties, although more than 110 cannabinoids have been identified up to now.
Cannabinoids interact with our Endocannabinoid system (ECS). The human Endocannabinoid system, which runs throughout the body, is primarily concerned with maintaining balance. In other words, the ECS maintains internal equilibrium.
Cannabinoid receptors are located throughout the endocannabinoid system, notably CB1 and CB2 receptors. Our CB1 receptors are concentrated in areas of the brain linked with behaviors influenced by them.Meanwhile, our CB2 receptors are primarily found in immune cells. When activated, CB2 receptors help us to fight inflammation. Cannabinoids have the potential to alter a variety of bodily processes, including mood and memory, appetite, and pain, in our bodies.
Let’s start with the most famous, THC, which is also scientifically known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. The chemical that causes cannabis’ psychotropic effects is THC, also known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. THC binds to our CB1 receptors and, as previously said, these receptors are especially concentrated in the brain and nervous system. Scientists are finding out that THC may do a lot more than just make you high. The term “marijuana” has a variety of meanings and connotations attached to it. THC is one of the most studied cannabinoids, and it’s been utilized to alleviate nausea, pain, and an appetite stimulant among other things. Currently, THC is the most prevalent cannabinoid in use, but scientists and researchers are digging even deeper into cannabis in order to learn more.
The most powerful cannabis strain ever created. It is often called the “Grand Daddy” of all cannabis strains, which has gained a reputation for being one of the strongest types of marijuana in existence. nIt is also known as “Afur”. This plant grows to about four feet tall when cultivated indoors, but it can reach up to eight feet when planted outside in poor soil.
The shorter variant of THC, also known as THCV, works similarly to THC except that the “tail” is chopped off or reduced in length. Without diving into the details of the chemistry even scientists can’t comprehend, this chemical responds differently to CB1 and CB2 receptors, and it’s possible that other receptors as well. The overall message is that THCV performs similar tasks to those carried out by THC. So, what exactly does THCV accomplish?
While THC activates cannabinoid receptors, THCV works in the opposite manner by keeping them from being activated. Because the majority of strains have considerably more THC, the effects of THCV are rarely achieved via cannabis in its natural form.
THCV Cannabis Strains
- Durbin Poison and Spin-off varieties
- South African Select Varieties
- Doug’s Varin and Pineapple Purps
- Crosses of Jack the Ripper and Black Cherry Soda can have 2.4 % THCV
- Agent Orange Nug Run Shatter can have about 2 % THCV
- Tangie, Girl
- Scout Cookies
- Pie Face OG
- Hawaiian Dutch
THCV and THC both have pain-relieving qualities, but they differ in one significant way. In contrast to THC, which stimulates hunger, THCV inhibits appetite. It also improves energy levels. When one considers how many health problems are linked to diabetes and obesity, which THCV can assist treat, this is quite significant.” – GW Pharmaceuticals
THCV Properties
- Psychoactive but different from common D9THC
- Euphoric, as opposed to sedating (THC)
- Energising, stimulating
- Good for day tasks, clear headedness
- An appetite suppressant
- Helps regulate blood sugar, improve insulin production
- Curbs anxiety and blocks panic attacks from THC
- Stimulates bone growth
- Research suggests that it might improve motor skills
- Good results with Alzheimer’s patients
- African Sativas seem to contain the most THCV
There is a lot of THCV in Pakistani cannabis, as well as cannabinol and d8 (non-psychoactive THC), which is utilized to make the medicine “tincture of cannabis.” That contained approximately equal amounts of THC and THCV.
What exactly is THCA? Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, or THCA, is a cannabinoid that belongs to the same family as THC. The difference between them is that THCA isn’t psychoactive. Because THCA does not activate CB1 cannabinoid receptors in the brain, it does not produce a “high.” To transform THCA into psychotropic THC, it must be heated. Decarboxylation is the technical term for the chemical change that causes THC to become psychoactive. When THCA is heated via smoking or vaping, the carboxylic acid (A in THCA) is removed, leaving it to transform into THC. Raw juices and smoothies are popular ways to consume THCA since this compound can only be obtained directly from raw cannabis plants.
THCV is the final cannabinoid in this list, and it’s similar to THC. THCV has yet to be studied extensively, but there is still debate about whether it is psychoactive. Some research indicates that when taken in modest dosages, it does not cause intoxication. The CB1 receptor is activated and generates a euphoric effect when THCV is consumed in high doses. According on reports, unlike THC, THCV actually reduces hunger. THCV has also been found in studies to help regulate blood sugar levels and reduce insulin resistance. THCV’s antioxidant and neuroprotective properties were revealed in a study published in August 2011, suggesting that it may improve Parkinson’s disease symptoms and possibly slow the disease’s progression. This could be beneficial for people with Parkinson’s who are currently unable to obtain relief. Because of its potential health advantages, THCV is quickly gaining recognition as one of the most researched cannabinoids today.
It’s amusing how a plant that was once labeled as unlawful is now assisting so many people from various backgrounds. With over 100 cannabinoids presently identified in the plant, we are just starting to scratch the surface of what this amazing plant has to offer.
THCV – The skinny cannabinoid
THCV – Tetrahydrocannabivarin
“Cannabis sativa: The Plant of the Million and One Molecules” is the name of a study authored by Andre et al. that concisely illustrates this plant’s complexity and therapeutic potential. Cannabis sativa L. is best recognized for producing cannabinoids in large amounts, making it the only plant to do so.
Aside from phytocannabinoids (plant-cannabinoids), there are numerous additional chemicals present, including terpenes, flavonoids, strereoids, and fatty acids, all of which work together to improve the effectiveness of cannabis therapy.
In the past, most of the research has focused on psychotropic cannabinoids such as delt-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), although other “lesser” cannabinoids have been neglected. THCV, one of THC’s little brothers, has been largely overlooked in the past (THCV).
The two cannabinoid families
There are two distinct “families” of cannabinoids that dominate the cannabis plant, and the difference is just in two carbon atoms. The pentyls have a phenolic sidechain with five carbon atoms, whereas the propyls only have three. This difference is due to two different acids being used in the synthesis of phytocannabinoid precursors.Cannabigerolic acid (CBGa) is formed when olivetolic acid is combined with geranyl pyrophosphate. Depending on the acid synthase present, CBGa may be converted to other cannabinoid acids. THCa synthethase transforms it into THCa, CBDa synthethase converts it to CBDa, and CBCa syntheses it into CBCa.
Cannabigerovarinic acid is created by combining divarinolic acid with geranyl pyrophosphate (CBGVa). The same acid synthases that convert the pentlys also convert the propyls; THCa synthethase transforms it into THCVa, CBDa synthethase into CBDVa, and CBCa sythethase into CBCVa.
The discovrery of THCV
The first isolation of GLCDTHCV was done by Gill et al. in 1970, when it was extracted from a licensed cannabis tincture that was accessible in the UK at the time. The legal importation and production of the tincture included Pakistani-produced cannabis. THC (2.4%) and THCV (2%), a 5:4 ratio that is also present in more recent chemotypes (Doug’s Varin), were among the main components of the tinctures.
As a side note, in the early days of cannabis research, Vollner et al. investigated and isolated the propyl analogue of CBD (CBDV) from hashish in 1969.
High THCV chemovars
Cannabivarin is a cannabinoid usually found in low doses throughout cannabis strains, and since it has been difficult to discover chemovars with high counts of this cannabinoid, there has been little research into it. Certain Asian and African landraces have had higher amounts of this cannabinoid.
High THCV was developed through selective interbreeding of high 1:1 THC:THCV landraces (China, South Africa) and named chemovars (California orange, Malawi Gold). They obtained a genotype with 96% propyl cannabinoids by a controlled method of self-pollination and cross breeding of the phenotypes with the most propyl cannabinoid levels.
Doug’s Varin is one of the most well-known chemovars, with a high THCV concentration. Steep Hill Laboratories performed tests on this varin in which they discovered 19 percent THC-A and 15 percent THCV-A. Pinene was present at 0,53 percent, limonene was at 0,48 percent, and beta-myrcene made up the majority (24,25%) of the terpenes. They also did an analysis on decarboxylated kief from this chemovar; they found 24% THCV and 21% THC. The only measured terpene in decarboxylated kief was beta-myrcene (0,38%), indicating that monoter
The THCV content in chemovars has been tested higher, with Jack el frutero (6%), Jack the Ripper (6%), Pink Boost Goddess (5%), and Black beauty (3-4%) being examples. Other chemovars may have even greater amounts of THCV, but many analytical labs still do not test for it.
HIGH THCV STRAIN – DURBAN POISON
Choose a strain with A cannabinoid profile showing at least 1 percent CBG and THCV, and any THC content. CBD is nice, but it won’t be in great quantities.
Durban Poison is a sativa that’s like coffee’s espresso. It’s the raciest sativa I’ve ever encountered, with no evidence of numbness or “stoning.” It galvanizes you awake, cuts through the foggy haze, and leaves you clear-minded and bright. It provides lots of energy as well as an intense emotional euphoria… where everything appears to be vibrating and you can’t take your smile off your face.