CBD

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid naturally produced by hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). It is one of the main phytocannabinoids present in the plant and is now one of the best-known and most studied compounds in the world of cannabis. Unlike THC, CBD is not considered a psychotropic cannabinoid.

Discovered during the 20th century, cannabidiol gradually became a major subject of scientific research. It is now present in many hemp-derived products and occupies a central place in the fields of cultivation, extraction, analysis and cannabis processing.

Natural origin of CBD

CBD is naturally synthesised by the plant in the trichomes, tiny resin glands found mainly on female hemp flowers. These structures also produce terpenes, flavonoids and most of the other cannabinoids.

Biosynthesis begins with CBGA, often called a precursor cannabinoid. Through the action of specific enzymes, some of the CBGA is converted into CBDA, the natural acidic form of cannabidiol. When exposed to heat or simply ageing, CBDA loses a carbon dioxide molecule through a process called decarboxylation, giving rise to CBD.

Distribution within the plant

The amount of CBD produced depends on many factors, such as genetics, growing conditions, light intensity, nutrition, harvest stage and drying and processing methods.

Cannabidiol is mainly concentrated in the flowers, where trichomes are most abundant. It is also found in resins, certain extracts and, in smaller quantities, in other parts of the plant.

CBD among the cannabinoids

Hemp produces more than one hundred identified cannabinoids. The best known include THC, CBG, CBN, CBC, CBDA and CBGA. Each has a specific chemical structure and contributes to the plant's natural composition.

CBD is frequently studied alongside other cannabinoids, as well as terpenes and flavonoids, which also contribute to hemp's chemical richness.

Extraction and available forms

Cannabidiol can be obtained through various extraction processes, including supercritical CO₂ extraction, ethanol extraction and other techniques suited to hemp. After purification, it can be offered in different forms depending on the desired level of refinement.

This includes Full Spectrum extracts, which retain all the cannabinoids and compounds naturally present in the plant, Broad Spectrum extracts, from which THC has been removed, and isolates, composed almost exclusively of cannabidiol.

Presence in hemp products

CBD is used in many categories of hemp-derived products. It is found in particular in CBD flowers, resins, oils, extracts, infusions, cosmetics, certain technical products and various specialised preparations.

Depending on the type of product and the manufacturing process, the cannabidiol concentration and overall composition may vary considerably.

A widely studied cannabinoid

Cannabidiol is now one of the cannabinoids most extensively documented in the scientific literature. Research focuses in particular on its chemical structure, biosynthesis in the plant, interaction with various biological systems and place within the endocannabinoid system.

Because of its importance in modern hemp and its use in many applications, CBD is one of the main reference molecules for understanding the biology, chemistry and composition of cannabis.