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CBT: Discover the possible remedy for THC
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4 min
We continue our exploration of the many cannabinoids with CBT, also known as cannabitriol.
Discovered in the 1980s and isolated in 2014, it is still largely unknown, but it has particularly interesting characteristics, including a potentially inhibitory effect on THC.
What is Cannabitriol (CBT)?
CBT is one of the 100 or 200 minor cannabinoids synthesized by hemp and cannabis plants, but unlike THC or CBD, it is not available in large quantities and is only represented in certain specific varieties.
Furthermore, unlike many "CB" type molecules, as opposed to "TH" molecules, the molecular structure of CBT is closer to that of THC than to CBD. This characteristic is easily explained: cannabitriol is synthesized from the THCA molecule, the acidic form of THC. Nevertheless, some differences remain. CBT has more hydroxyl groups. These groups, composed of an additional oxygen atom and a hydrogen atom (-OH)-, increase its polarity.
We mentioned that CBD is only found in certain hemp varieties, but that's not the only place it can be found: it can also be synthesized by the oxidation of THC by riboflavin (vitamin B2) under white light. A CBT molecule obtained in this way is therefore a metabolite, just like 10-OH HHC, which is the result of the oxidation of HHC after it has been processed by liver enzymes.
Is CBT a THC inhibitor?
Despite the fact that CBT has a molecular structure similar to THC and is synthesized from THCa, CBT could hypothetically offer a solution for cannabis users. Not as a substitute or regulator like CBD.
But it could allow users to consume cannabis without experiencing the negative effects associated with THC. Many items about CBT on the internet claim that a 2007 study found that CBT could cancel out some of the effects of THC, but that's not entirely accurate.
In fact, as we mentioned, the difference between CBT and THC is the addition of OH groups. These groups make a big difference; they make this compound water-soluble, unlike THC, which is only fat-soluble. But most importantly, they make the molecule polar.
This polarity also greatly changes how the body absorbs and distributes the molecule, as polar molecules, such as CBT, are absorbed and eliminated more rapidly. Furthermore, this polarity also prevents the molecule from crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which protects the brain, unlike THC.
The idea would be to design a complementary product that consumers could ingest. This product would act as a catalytic antibody, capable of oxidizing and deactivating THC upon consumption. This would allow users to consume cannabis and benefit from its medicinal properties while avoiding its harmful effects.
But, as you will have understood, this technology is still very far from being perfected, and we will certainly not see this solution emerge for a long time.
The effects of CBT
Like many cannabinoids found in low concentrations in cannabis, there is very little data available about CBT. Furthermore, the few researchers who have studied CBT are still unsure how it works.
It likely has no psychoactive or psychotropic effects. Some suggest it could play a significant role in the entourage effect, meaning it would enhance the potency of other cannabinoids consumed simultaneously.
Like other cannabinoids, CBT could also interact with the endocannabinoid system, such as CBD, which could potentially affect:
- Hunger
- The sensation of pain
- The body's response to inflammation
- Libido
- Nicotine addiction tendencies
- …
However, there is no reliable scientific data on this subject.
Promising medical applications
Much more recent studies published in 2020 and 2021 have examined the properties of CBT in cancer treatment and more specifically in the treatment of breast cancer.
The first publication isn't a new discovery; we already discussed it in this article about CBDP. This study aimed to analyze the potential of various cannabinoids to act as aromatase inhibitors. This potential proved positive. Aromatase is an enzyme that enables the biosynthesis of sex hormones. Since breast cancer is hormone-dependent, its development is impacted by these hormones, which stimulate cancer cells. By inhibiting aromatase, CBT therefore possesses significant anticancer potential.
The second study is quite similar; it attempted to analyze the potential of cannabinoids as inhibitors of the alpha estrogen receptor (the female sex hormone). The results suggest that CBT, like other cannabinoids, may possess a superior inhibitory property compared to Tamoxifen, a drug commonly used to treat breast cancer. In addition to this superior property, CBT also appears to have fewer side effects than Tamoxifen.
But it should not be forgotten that although they are promising, these studies are still in their early stages, and as they say, much more research, including in vivo and in vitro studies, will be needed before the efficacy and safety of CBT can be validated as a potential treatment for breast cancer.
In conclusion
CBT is another cannabinoid with a unique mechanism of action. Because THC can be converted into CBT relatively easily, it could provide a satisfactory solution for the use of medical marijuana without the known adverse effects.
Furthermore, with its potential benefits against hormone-dependent cancers such as breast cancer, CBT, consumed in food preparations, oil, or flower form, like other cannabinoids, could also represent a major step forward in the field of oncology.
But as always with cannabinoids, these results are still far from being applicable, and if they are to be, it will be some time before that happens. Rest assured, however, that if such research is ever conducted, we will be sure to keep you informed, so keep following our blog posts !
Sources
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