(Newswire.net — April 8, 2019) — The Cannabis sativa plant is composed of over 480 natural components within it. Out of these, 66 have been categorized as cannabinoids and the various types of cannabinoids. These cannabinoids (chemicals unique to Cannabis sativa plant) are separated into the following types:
Types of Cannabinoids
1. Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid (THCA)
In raw cannabis, Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid is the main constituent. It is one of the common types of cannabinoids. When did heated, vaporized or burned at a particular temperature, THCA changes to Δ9-THC. CBGA, CBDA, THCA and other acidic-cannabinoids combines with the most COX-2 and COX-1 inhibition adding to anti-inflammatory effects of cannabis. THCA also serves as an antispasmodic and antiproliferative.
2. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
THC is the most plentiful cannabinoid found in marijuana and is the one responsible for the cannabis’ very much known psychoactive effects. It serves as a partial-agonist at the CB2 and CB1 receptors. This compound is a painkiller or mild analgesic and research shows that it also has the antioxidant activity.
3. Cannabidiolic Acid (CBDA)
Cannabidiolic Acid has elevated CBD-levels and it selectively hinders the COX-2 enzyme resulting in anti-inflammatory effects of cannabis.
4. Cannabidiol (CBD)
This cannabinoid has very great medical potential. It only needs the correct CBD to THC ratio to be applied in order to treat a certain condition. Cannabidiol serves as an antagonist in both CB2 and CB1 receptors. It does this having low binding-affinity for them both and this implies that its action mechanism is being mediated by other body and brain receptors.
5. Cannabinol (CBN)
This cannabinoid is mildly psychoactive. The degradation of THC produces CBN causing a sedative effect referred to as a couch lock. Cannabinol serves as a weak agonist for both CB2 and CB1 receptors but with higher CB2 receptor affinity than CB1.
6. Cannabigerol (CBG)
Cannabigerol has antibacterial effects and can change the overall cannabis effects. It is thought to promote bone growth, slow or kill bacterial growth, inhibit cell growth in cell or tumour cells and reduce inflammation. It operates as a low-affinity antagonist for the CB1 receptor.
6. Cannabichromene (CBC)
It is mostly in cannabis varieties found in the tropics and known to promote bone growth, inhibit cell growth in cell or tumour cells, reduce inflammation and relieve pain. The CBC effects get mediated by interactions of non-cannabinoid receptors.
7. Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)
Tetrahydrocannabivarin is a minor cannabinoid only found in some cannabis strains. Its effects include enhancement of bone growth, suppression of appetite and a reduction of panic attacks. THCV operates as an antagonist for the CB1 receptor but a partial agonist for the CB2 receptor. The structural difference between this cannabinoid and THC is the availability of a propyl (3 carbon) group on the molecule rather than the pentyl (5 carbon) group.
8. Cannabidivarin (CBDV)
Just like Like THCV, the structural difference between this Cannabidivarin and CBD is the availability of a propyl (3 carbon) group on the molecule rather than the pentyl (5 carbon) group. Research on this cannabinoid is still little but the recent ones show that it can be used to manage epilepsy. This is attributed to its activity at modulation of gene expression and TRPV1 receptors.
Conclusion
As you have noted, there are several types of cannabinoids and each one comes with several health benefits. Some of the types of cannabinoids include Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid, Tetrahydrocannabinol, Cannabidiolic Acid and many more.