CBDV Effects: how Do They Differ from CBD?
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CBDV or cannabidivarin is one of the many cannabinoids naturally present in the hemp plant. The chemical structure of CBDV is very similar to that of cannabidiol, the CBDV side chain being shorter than that of CBD. What are the effects of CBDV: how do they differ from CBD?
The anti-epileptic potential of CBDV
Discovered in 1969, the cannabidivarin molecule lay forgotten for many years. In recent years, research has intensified , but remains incomplete and we still don't know everything about CBDV.
Recent studies suggest that CBDV may have potential benefits for epileptic seizures.
We know that the famous American laboratories GW Pharmaceuticals focused their research on the CBDV molecule. They were looking for a CBDV-based treatment for epilepsy. By 2014, GW Pharmaceuticals had completed a Phase 1 clinical trial in adult epilepsy patients.
In 2013, a study in the British Journal of Pharmacology examined the effects of CBDV on rats and mice induced to have epileptic seizures. CBDV's anticonvulsant potential was thus demonstrated. In 2014, the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience published a study also detailing the anticonvulsant potential of the CBDV molecule, effects delivered via TRP channels.
The influence of CBDV on neurological disorders
Even though research into the CBDV molecule is relatively recent, certain positive effects of CBDV seem to have been brought to light: CBDV is thought to have a positive influence on certain neurological disorders.
Indeed, experimental studies show that certain cannabinoids could have a potential neuroprotective effect, and an effect on the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. For several years now, cannabis has also been used to treat spasticity and pain in certain multiple sclerosis patients.
Like CBD, CBDV interacts with the endocannabinoid system and its receptors. The cannabidivarin molecule can bind to other receptors linked to pain perception. In this way, CBDV could have a positive impact on pain and neurological function.
Certainly, further research is needed to develop studies on the neurochemical properties that CBDV might offer.
CBDV to reduce inflammation
The anti-inflammatory effects of cannabidivarin are thought to help relieve the inflammation and pain associated with chronic inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. This is thought to be due to CBDV's interaction with the endocannabinoid system. It has also been reported to reduce chronic muscular inflammation, notably in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
In 2018, a study in the British Journal of Pharmacology examined the effects of certain cannabinoids on animal models of Duchenne muscular myopathy. Symptoms of Duchenne muscular myopathy include difficulty standing, muscle weakness, as well as loss of muscle mass. According to the researchers, CBD and CBDV “prevented the loss of locomotor activity, reduced inflammation and restored autophagy”. Although tested in animal models, CBDV's potential effects are encouraging on the road to helping renew or regenerate damaged cells.
CBDV may have an effect on autism
CBDV is also interesting for other applications in the medical field. GW Pharma has also been investigating the effects of CBDV in the treatment of autism. CBDV is thought to have the potential to modulate the brain's inhibitory and excitatory systems. Some studies have therefore examined this potential in the context of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms.
Albert Einstein College of Medicine and GW Pharmaceuticals have conducted a collaborative review of CBDV by testing it in children with autism spectrum disorder.
In 2019, the journal Translational Psychiatry also published an article on the subject. The aim was to assess cannabidivarin's ability to affect glutamate and GAMA metabolites (markers of inhibitory or excitatory systems), in two groups of patients: healthy and with ASD. As the results were not uniform, further studies are needed to understand CBDV's mechanism of action in this area.
Managing nausea with CBDV
The question of how cannabinoids interact with the body's natural nausea response is highly topical. It would appear that the cannabidivarin molecule has anti-nausea properties, i.e. that it helps to reduce nausea and vomiting. Scientific studies have addressed this issue.
CBDV's antiemetic properties are thought to reduce nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing chemotherapy, or those suffering from gastrointestinal disorders.
A 2013 comparative study in the British Journal of Pharmacology examined whether THCV and CBDV reduce nausea in animal models of nausea. The study's authors conducted two experiments to determine which of THCV or CBDV caused or reduced nausea. The results suggest that these two cannabinoids do not act as CB1 receptor agonists, and therefore reduce nausea in the test subjects.
CBDV: a molecule with multiple properties
A promising cannabinoid with great potential, CBDV continues to attract research interest. New perspectives are emerging for cannabidivarin, in the medical field as well as in other areas. Continued research is essential if we are to achieve a deeper and more complete understanding of CBDV.
Legally speaking, the legality of CBDV varies from country to country. Generally speaking, the molecule is authorized because it is a non-psychotropic cannabinoid, and also because it is found in low proportions in the cannabis plant. However, in Europe, CBDV used in the food range is not yet authorized.
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