Cannabinoid

A cannabinoid is a molecule capable of interacting, directly or indirectly, with the endocannabinoid system. These compounds may be produced naturally by plants, synthesised by the body or manufactured in a laboratory. They form a broad family of molecules studied for their chemical structure, origin and interactions with various biological mechanisms.

Although cannabis is the best-known source of cannabinoids, this family is not limited to molecules produced by the plant. Today, several hundred natural and synthetic cannabinoids have been identified, making this class of compounds a major area of scientific research.

The three main families of cannabinoids

Cannabinoids are generally classified into three main categories. Phytocannabinoids are naturally produced by plants, mainly hemp and cannabis. Endocannabinoids are synthesised by the human body and many animals. Finally, synthetic cannabinoids are developed in laboratories using various chemical processes.

These three families have different origins but share the ability to interact, to varying degrees, with the endocannabinoid system.

Hemp phytocannabinoids

Hemp naturally produces more than one hundred phytocannabinoids. The best known include CBD, THC, CBG, CBN and CBC, as well as their acidic forms such as CBDA, THCA and CBGA.

These molecules are mainly synthesised in trichomes, the resin glands found on the flowers. Their concentration varies according to the plant’s genetics, cultivation conditions, harvesting stage and processing methods.

The endocannabinoid system

The term cannabinoid is directly linked to the endocannabinoid system, a biological network found in humans and many animals. It includes cannabinoid receptors, endocannabinoids produced by the body, and the enzymes responsible for their synthesis and breakdown.

Phytocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids are studied for their interactions with this system, as well as with other biological mechanisms.

A highly diverse family of molecules

Cannabinoids display a wide range of chemical structures and properties. Some are present in significant quantities in hemp, while others occur only in trace amounts or are mainly observed during certain stages of the plant’s development.

This diversity explains why new cannabinoids continue to be identified and studied as analytical techniques advance.

At the heart of hemp research

Cannabinoids are one of the main families of compounds naturally produced by hemp. They are studied alongside terpenes, flavonoids and other plant constituents to better understand the chemical composition of different varieties, as well as the characteristics of flowers, extracts and other hemp-derived products.