What We Know About Cannabinol
Among the naturally occurring cannabinoids found in cannabis plants, cannabinol (CBN) is a lesser-studied compound with sedative, analgesic, and antibacterial effects. In 1896, CBN was the first cannabinoid to be isolated from the cannabis plant in a clinical setting.
At the time, scientists believed CBN to be responsible for producing the well-known psychotropic effects of cannabis, though further clinical research proved tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to be the culprit. While research into CBN is fairly limited, CBN has a promising future in the cannabis industry.
How Is CBN Created?
Cannabinol (CBN) is not often found in the presence of other cannabinoids because it is not a direct product of cannabigerol (CBG) in cannabis plants. Alternatively, CBN is formed through the oxidation process that occurs when THC is exposed to heat and sunlight.
This oxidation process can occur naturally (when cannabis is cut and stored) or through direct treatment with heat and ultraviolet light. Both methods of oxidation result in high concentrations of CBN. Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THC-A), the acid that becomes THC, can oxidate into cannabinolic acid (CBN-A) through the same processes.
CBN, like other cannabinoids, is fat-soluble but not naturally water-soluble. CBN and other cannabinoids become water-soluble when they are processed into tiny particles, which are then combined with water. The resulting mixtures are known as nanoemulsions or microemulsions, and the entire process can vastly increase the bioavailability of existing cannabinoids.
What Are CBN’s Properties?
The subject of CBN has not been favored in current studies, unlike other scientific research into cannabinoids including THC and CBD. In fact, until recently CBN was considered a wasted by-product of cannabinoid extraction, and it hasn’t received the same clinical attention as THC and CBD.
Most research involving CBN has been performed on laboratory rats and mice, but a growing clinical awareness of CBN’s promising health benefits is responsible for driving additional investigation into this compound.
So, what qualities of CBN make it worth conducting further research, and what do we know about it so far?
CBN’s Sedative Effect
One of the most well-known characteristics of cannabis use is significant drowsiness. While this is a recognized effect of some compounds, research conducted on laboratory rats indicates that CBN is one of the main cannabinoids that results in the drowsiness associated with cannabis usage.
Aged cannabis loses compounds called monoterpenoids while keeping sesquiterpenoids - this is the chemical combination that causes sleepiness. Because the concentration of CBN also increases within aged cannabis, there is reason to believe in the connection between CBN and drowsiness. Some users report that CBN successfully remedies their insomnia, though clinical studies have not confirmed these reports.
Regardless, this purported sedative effect is one of the primary differences between CBN and the more popular CBD (which does not cause drowsiness in consumers).
CBN’s Antibacterial Nature
Cannabinoids, including CBN, have been shown to possess antibacterial properties while offering a broad range of possible applications and benefits. One study identified cannabinoids, including CBN, as being effective against some strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA infections are a major concern for hospitals and can be identified as the root cause of many difficult-to-treat infections.
CBN’s Anti-Inflammatory Qualities
CBD oils (including those containing CBN) possess anti-inflammatory qualities. The anti-inflammatory nature of CBN may present opportunities to treat several medical conditions. Cannabinoid oils help treat chronic skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis as well as more rare conditions such as scleroderma. CBN may also serve as an adjunct treatment for skin cancer.
Results from another clinical study indicated that laboratory rats experienced relief from arthritis-related inflammation due to CBN supplementation.
CBN’s Pain-Relieving Potential
A clinical study has shown that CBN supplementation appears to provide significant relief from muscle pain in laboratory rats. This news sends a positive message to sufferers of fibromyalgia, a condition that can result in chronic and debilitating muscular pain.
CBN’s Potential to Enhance Bone Growth
Some cannabinoids have been shown to stimulate bone growth in laboratory mice. CBN’s potential to induce bone growth may apply to fighting against osteoporosis and increasing the healing speed of broken bones.
Expanding scientific exploration into the numerous benefits associated with cannabis-derived products, including CBN, is an exciting and promising area of research that scientists are only beginning to fully understand.
