What Can CBDA Do For You?

FIRST, WHAT ARE CANNABINOIDS?

Cannabinoids are the naturally occurring chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant. Cannabinoids are partly responsible for the wide array of medicinal and psychoactive effects cannabis may provide. Currently there are over 110 known cannabinoids with more likely to be discovered as studies continue to reveal the complex molecular structures of the cannabis plant.

Cannabinoids interact with human physiology through the endocannabinoid system (ECS), the set of receptors that function to regulate health and promote homeostasis throughout the body. The ECS has two primary receptors, the CB1 and CB2. The CB1 receptor binds primarily to the brain and nervous system, while the CB2 receptor interacts largely with the immune system. The cannabis plant relies on cannabinoids binding to these receptors to produce the array of potential benefits and effects. Each cannabinoid holds unique characteristics of their own that are worth noting in order to maximize desired effects from medicating with cannabis.

SO, WHAT IS CBDA?

When we discuss non-psychoactive cannabinoids that contain a wide range of health benefits, CBD tends to steal the spotlight. As time passes and investigations into the cannabis plant continue, the acid-form chemical precursor to CBD has begun to show extreme promise.

Cannabidiolic Acid also known as CBDA is a naturally occurring phytocannabinoid abundant to high-CBD hemp and marijuana strains.

CBDA can be found in the live or raw form of cannabis, particularly in the hemp plant and strains bred to cultivate higher CBD levels. CBDA converts to CBD through decarboxylation, which occurs when cannabis is exposed to heat or sunlight.

Cannabidolic Acid (CBD-A) and Tetrahydrocannabonolic Acid (THC-A) are similar in a lot of ways. Both are acid-based substances found in the raw, living cannabis plant. Both are completely non-psychoactive. And both convert to their counterparts—CBD and THC respectfully– when heated above a certain temperature (roughly between 200 to 290 F for THC-A and between 240 F to 290 F for CBD-A).

The process through which these “A” substances are able to turn into their better-known counterparts is called decarboxylation. This is because both THC-A and CBD-A lose carbon atoms to form THC and CBD when heated.  The most common way that decarboxylation occurs is through smoking or vaping, although cooking and baking cannabis, such as for making edibles, will stimulate decarboxylation as well.

THC-A and CBD-A are similar in one more important way: both of these cannabinoids can help with healing some of the most serious disease conditions.

CBDA shows promise as an anticonvulsant, anti-nausea and vomiting agent, analgesic and anti-inflammatory. CBDA may also have antibacterial, antioxidant and cancer preventing properties.

CBDA vs CBD

As cannabis grows, CBGA biosynthesizes into three main cannabinoids: THCA, CBCA, and CBDA. These molecules are known as 'raw' or 'non-activated' cannabinoids. Not until these molecules undergo the process called decarboxylation do they transform into their well-known 'active' forms: THC, CBD, and CBC.

Simply put, CBDA is the parent of CBD.

So why all the fuss about raw cannabinoids like Cannabidiolic Acid? Well, it turns out that these compounds provide unique and synergistic benefits to their heated forms. Specific to CBDA, the great promise and positive initial results have led to a fair amount of initial research on the compound.

HOW DOES CBDA WORK?

CBDA isn’t known to bind directly with the CB1 and CB2 receptors but interacts with the ECS as an inhibitor to the COX-2 enzyme, giving CBDA the potential to reduce inflammatory activity throughout the body. CBDA is also thought to enhance the serotonin producing 5-HT receptor. This particular interaction could possibly make CBDA a primary contributor to the antiemetic effects of cannabis.

What Are the Effects & Benefits of CBDA?

Along with CBD, this raw acid-form does not have psychoactive effects. There are many potential benefits to this compound with studies showing that the molecule has positive effects when taken alone or in combination with other cannabinoids via the entourage effect (helping to synergistically increase the overall outcome).

• Anti-proliferative - prevents cancer cell migration, noted specifically in cases of aggressive breast cancer. (Source)
• Antiemetic - reduces nausea and vomiting. (Source)
• Anti-inflammatory and pain reduction through COX-2 inhibition. (Source)
• Positive effect on seizures for the treatment of epilepsy, also when used in combination with CBD. (Source)
• Anti-anxiety effects. (Source)
• Potential anti-depressive effects through 5-HT1A receptor activation. (Source)

Where Can You Find CBDA?

Just like all the other raw cannabinoids, CBDA is found in mature hemp or marijuana that is ready for harvest. Despite this compound being extremely abundant in the plants used to create the CBD-rich products on the market today, finding CBDA can be though. This is because the vast majority of extractors decarboxylate, or heat, the extracted cannabinoids in order to activate them.

HOWEVER, an exciting new patented product is showing signs in initial testing that it actually PROTECTS CBDA from decarboxylation within the human body, ensuring that more CBDA is bioavailable to the user who ingests the full spectrum CBD Hemp oil that this water-attracting additive is a part of. Available exclusively from our firm, our 10x Pure product has shown enormous increases in benefits for the user, even while using less product than competitors.

As a consumer looking for a CBDA rich product, we suggest looking for brands like our 10x Pure that are focused on providing potent, bioavailable full spectrum CBD Hemp oils containing higher amounts of CBDA than other brands.

THE RESEARCH

CBD-A has been in the news a lot lately, mostly for the new-found ways it has shown to inhibit cancer. The link between cancer and CBD-A was catalyzed by a 2012 study that took a look at CBD-A’s effect on breast cancer cells. This and subsequent studies discovered that CBD-A in raw cannabis can suppress the COX-2 enzyme, a major instigator of breast cancer metastasis, as well as other forms of cancer.

Initial studies also indicate promising results using CBDA to stop the migration of invasive human breast cancer cells.

A 2011 Swedish study evaluated six different cannabinoids—CBD-A and THC-A as well as THC, CBD, CBDA, CBG and CBGA– for their effects on inflammatory processes, including COX-2. They found that all six of these substances together had a profound effect on inflammatory processes in laboratory colon cancer cell lines. According to the researchers: “The Endocannabinoids are structurally similar to arachidonic acid and have been suggested to interfere with the inflammatory process. They have also been shown to inhibit cancer cell proliferation.”

A study from September 2008 examined CBDA’s potential anti-inflammatory properties through its selective inhibition of the COX-2 enzyme. A September 2012 study researched CBDA as a possible anti-cancer agent. The antiemetic effects of CBDA was the subject of a February 2013 study. A January 2017 study suggested CBDA may have application in the treatment of aggressive breast cancer.

Results of the current investigation revealed that CBDA inhibits migration of the highly invasive MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells, apparently through a mechanism involving inhibition of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A, coupled with an activation of the small GTPase, RhoA. It is established that activation of the RhoA signaling pathway leads to inhibition of the mobility of various cancer cells, including MDA-MB-231 cells. The data presented in this report suggest for the first time that as an active component in the cannabis plant, CBDA offers potential therapeutic modality in the abrogation of cancer cell migration, including aggressive breast cancers.

The latest study, published in January 2017 in the Journal of Natural Medicine by researchers at Hiroshima International University, adds further light to the subject. The researchers discovered a possible way that CBD-A inhibits the COX-2 enzyme in highly-aggressive breast cancer tumors. Their study focused on CBD-A’s inhibition of proto oncogene c-Fos, a common precursor to proteins involved in cancer metastasis.

CBD-A along with THC-A have also been known for some time for its anti-inflammatory effects; in fact, this is a large part of what makes it a potential cancer-killer.

More Research Needed on Both CBD-A and THC-A

The research that does exist on the health benefits of both CBD-A and THC-A, especially when it comes to cancer, provides great news for those who want to heal with cannabis but whose systems may not respond positively to the psycho-active effects of THC. Hopefully, with more and more states opening their doors to medical marijuana (the whole plant, not just CBD) and with research funding in states like Colorado beginning to trickle in, more focus will happen regarding substances that exist in the natural, raw cannabis plant, like CBD-A and THC-A, as well.

Sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29182999

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26381155

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18556441

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16728591

http://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/36/9/1917.short

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378427412012854

http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/318/3/1375.short