New Cannabinoid on the Scene: Meet CBM
Cannabis has been cultivated for thousands of years. Only recently has science begun to uncover its true complexity. So far, we know several cannabinoids contained in cannabis, with two of the most well-known being THC and CBD. Only recently was a substance called cannabimovone (CBM) discovered in a cannabis plant called Carmagnola, which was recognized as a cannabinoid with a number of unique effects. What exactly is cannabimovone? In this article, you will learn everything scientists have discovered about CBM so far.
When Was CBM Discovered?
Cannabimovone was accidentally discovered in 2010 in an Italian cannabis variety called Carmagnola. However, CBM only recently came into the spotlight, when in March 2020, a group of Italian universities and research centers processed a study on this topic, which was subsequently published in an issue of the Molecules journal. Their findings proved that this cannabinoid acts differently than THC and CBD, even though its biological structure is similar to CBD.
How Does CBM Work?
The formation of organ cells in the human body is primarily controlled by two receptors: PPARa (PPAR-alpha) and PPARy (PPAR-gamma). These cells are also responsible for regulating hormones such as insulin, which plays a crucial role in processing dietary sugars. It was found that CBM binds to different receptors in the human body, with the highest affinity to the PPARγ receptor. Low insulin regulation leads to metabolic disorders such as diabetes. Scientists claim that by activating PPARy receptors, cannabinoids like CBM could support proper cell growth and hormone regulation, thus helping people with diabetes and similar diseases.
What Are the Therapeutic Effects of CBM?
PPARα and PPARγ receptors regulate gene activity responsible for cell formation in major human organs, such as:
- heart,
- some muscles,
- kidneys,
- liver,
- colon,
- pancreas,
- and spleen.
CBM acts as an agonist of the PPARγ receptor, while other cannabinoids like THC and CBD are antagonists of these receptors.
As a PPAR agonist, CBM is absolutely ideal because it can help in treating diabetes and other metabolic diseases. Future research on CBM could reveal whether its effect on PPAR can be effectively utilized. Given that other cannabinoids, including THC and CBD, are known to affect metabolism, CBM will likely be part of complex cannabis extracts along with other cannabinoids and terpenes.
Therapeutic Effects of Cannabinoids
THC: anxiety, glaucoma, insomnia, loss of appetite, muscle spasms, nausea, pain, and others.
CBD: anxiety, depression, inflammation, migraines, nausea, pain, mental disorders, seizures, and others.
CBM: diabetes, metabolic disease, eating disorders, hormonal disorders, various types of cancer, and other potential effects yet to be discovered.
CBM Availability in the Market
CBM comes from a cannabis variety called Carmagnola, although further research suggests this cannabinoid may also be found in other varieties. The relatively high CBM content discovered in the Carmagnola variety could encourage breeders to cross this variety with industrial hemp to create new varieties with high CBM content. However, cultivating this variety is likely not a good business at the moment since this plant produces only a small amount of this cannabinoid.
Future Use of CBM in Medicine
Given that few studies have been conducted on this topic, it is quite difficult to precisely determine how the use of CBM as a medicinal agent will prove. Consumers are beginning to perceive CBM as another component of cannabis medicinal products. While it is true that CBM is too new to make any definitive statements about it, it is also true that what we already know about cannabis can suggest that any future discoveries about CBM will likely not be disappointing. And so, it is the right time to explore what this new and promising cannabinoid can do. After all, the study published in the Molecules journal revealed that serious health issues like diabetes could be treated using new medicinal agents containing cannabinoids such as CBM, THC, CBD, THCV, or other cannabinoids yet to be discovered in the future.