Cannabis Flavonoids: An Overview of the Underrated Plant Compounds
When people talk about cannabis, most think of THC and CBD first, maybe terpenes too. Yet the plant contains a third, often overlooked group of compounds: flavonoids. They give cannabis its colour and flavour and, according to current research, may also play a role in the so-called entourage effect. In this article you’ll learn what flavonoids are, which cannabis-specific variants exist and what science knows so far about their effects.
What are flavonoids?
Flavonoids are secondary plant compounds found in a wide range of plants, where they contribute to colour and flavour, among other things. Cannabis contains over 500 different chemical compounds, including more than 20 different types of flavonoids – some sources speak of 23 exclusive flavonoid types. Interestingly, flavonoids are found mainly in the leaves and stems of the plant, while seeds and roots don’t contain these molecules.
Besides their role in colour and flavour, flavonoids also have protective functions in the plant – for example against UV radiation and pests.
Cannaflavins: cannabis’s own flavonoids
Among the many flavonoids in cannabis, a few are considered almost unique to the plant: the so-called cannaflavins A, B and C. The prefix “cann” refers to the fact that they were first identified in cannabis extracts. Cannaflavins make up less than 0.02% of the total plant weight, but are considered remarkable because of their potential effects.
Besides the cannaflavins, cannabis contains other well-known compounds that also occur in other plants, including:
- Beta-sitosterol (strictly speaking a phytosterol rather than a flavonoid)
- Quercetin
- Apigenin
- Kaempferol
- Luteolin
What research knows about their effects
Research on cannabis flavonoids is still thin, but initial studies provide interesting clues:
- Cannaflavin A has been credited in studies with a considerably stronger anti-inflammatory effect than aspirin, while the medicinal properties of cannaflavins B and C have not yet been fully researched
- Apigenin showed anxiety-relieving effects in studies, as well as anti-inflammatory effects through the inhibition of TNF-alpha
- Beta-sitosterol demonstrated an anti-inflammatory, decongestant effect in skin models – topical inflammation decreased by up to 65%
- In general, flavonoids are credited with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential
Important context: these findings come largely from laboratory and animal models, and whether the observed effects really translate to humans to a comparable degree remains an open question.
Flavonoids and the entourage effect
The so-called entourage effect describes the hypothesis that the many compounds in the cannabis plant – cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids – together have a stronger or different effect than each substance on its own. The concept was introduced in 1998 by the Israeli pharmacologist Raphael Mechoulam.
Flavonoids are considered the most frequently overlooked group in the entourage concept, but could make their own contributions to the overall effect. Since cannaflavins and other flavonoids contribute significantly to the colour, flavour and aroma of a strain, they also help – together with terpenes – make individual cannabis strains noticeably different from one another.
Scientifically, however, the entourage effect has not yet been conclusively proven: the data is considered promising but inconsistent, and meaningful clinical studies in humans are still lacking.
Why the processing method matters
How many flavonoids (and terpenes) end up in the final product depends heavily on the processing method. Gentle methods tend to preserve a broader spectrum of accompanying compounds, while highly purified extracts filter most of them out. If you want to keep the full spectrum of cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids, you’re better off with full-spectrum products made from the whole plant rather than isolated single compounds.
Discover suitable product types: in our shop you’ll find CBD flowers, CBD oils, CBD Crunch and other CBD products. Which compounds are preserved always depends on how each product is processed.
Conclusion
Flavonoids are far more than a supporting act in the cannabis plant: they shape the colour, flavour and aroma of every strain and are suspected of contributing to the overall effect of cannabis via the entourage effect. Cannabis’s own cannaflavins A, B and C show promising anti-inflammatory properties in early studies – but robust clinical studies in humans are still pending for most of these effects.
Sources
- Flavonoids 101: your guide to flavonoids and cannaflavins – Cannigma
- Flavonoids in cannabis: effects & benefits – GB The Green Brand
- The entourage effect in cannabis – Weed.de
- Flavonoids: good for plants and people – mediorbis
- Stronger together: what is the entourage effect in cannabis? – Hanfgartenshop
- The entourage effect: is cannabis more than the sum of its parts? – Avaay
- What can flavonoids do? – GRÜNHORN cannabis pharmacy
- The entourage effect in cannabis – Can-Doc
- Terpenes, cannabinoids & flavonoids: what do they do? – CBD Vital
- Flavonoids in cannabis – Kalapa Clinic
Note: this article is for general information only and is no substitute for medical advice. The effects described come from preliminary studies and have not yet been conclusively proven scientifically. Please also observe the laws on growing and possessing cannabis that apply in your country or canton.
