Scientists have discovered cannabidiol, a cannabis compound known as CBD, in a plant commonly used in Brazil, opening up potential new opportunities for the production of this increasingly popular substance. Rodrigo Moura Neto, a molecular biologist at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, said the team discovered CBD in the fruits and flowers of a plant known as Trema micrantha blume, a shrub that grows across much of the South American country and is often considered a weed. . He was in AFP last year.

Increasingly used by some to treat conditions such as epilepsy, chronic pain and anxiety, CBD is one of the main active ingredients in marijuana, along with tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the substance that gives users a high.

The compound’s effectiveness as a treatment is currently being investigated.

Neto said chemical analysis found that Trema contained CBD but not THC, raising the possibility of a major new source of the former; This will not face the legal and regulatory hurdles of marijuana, including the number of marijuana that remains banned in many places. Brazil

“It’s a legal alternative to marijuana use,” he said. “This plant grows all over Brazil. This would be an easier and cheaper source of cannabidiol.”

According to him, scientists had previously discovered CBD at a related facility in Thailand.

Neto, who has not yet published his results, said he now plans to expand his research to determine the best methods of extracting CBD from “Trema” and analyze its effectiveness in patients with conditions currently treated with medical marijuana. His team recently won a 500,000 reais ($104,000) grant from the Brazilian government to fund the research, which he estimates will take at least five years.

A study by market analyst firm Vantage Market Research estimates the global CBD market at approximately US$5 billion and is expected to grow to over US$47 billion by 2028, primarily due to its health and wellness uses.