Getting to Know Your Cannabinoids CBDA 

by Brittney Graham 

As we continue on with our Cannabinoid spotlight series, I think it is the perfect time to introduce CBDA, also known as Cannabidiolic Acid. You might better know this compound as CBD (cannabidiol) since that is what it turns into over time and when exposed to heat.  Along that train of thought, CBDA is abundant in the live plants of CBD varieties. 

CBGA (cannabigerolic acid) also known as the mothership cannabinoid, was covered in our first spotlight of the series. This is where we learned that it converts into three major cannabinoid precursor compounds, depending on which plant enzymes are activated to direct synthesis.  One of these such precursors is in fact, none other than CBDA. You can typically find CBDA in capsules, tinctures, topicals, and raw cannabis juices, but what makes this compound so beneficial?

While we have learned that most cannabinoids bind directly with either the CB1 or CB2 receptors, CBDA doesn’t really work that way.  Instead, it interacts with the endocannabinoid system by inhibiting the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme. Before you go cross eyed with all the science lingo like I did, let me break this down. COX-2 enzymes are associated with inflammation after injury or infection, so by blocking these enzymes, CBDA can relieve inflammation associated with pain!  So, the next time you are feeling a little sore after a work out or injury, grab some CBDA and thank me later!

In a recent rodent study, scientists have demonstrated that CBDA can affect the body’s serotonin receptors, hinting at the potential use for CBDA as a medication for chemotherapy patients. This is due to the nausea induced by the chemotherapy itself; however, this study is in the very beginning stages and can’t be officially noted as beneficial in this area yet.