Cannabielsoxa: A newly discovered cannabinoid with promising potential
A team of scientists from Wonkwang and Kyung Hee Universities in South Korea recently disclosed their discovery of a previously unknown cannabinoid: Cannabielsoxa. While the cannabis market initially remained indifferent, this finding could profoundly alter how cannabinoid medicine is approached, particularly in oncology, the medical field that addresses cancer diseases.
Cannabielsoxa emerged rather unexpectedly during a comprehensive chromatographic analysis aimed at exploring the anti-tumour potential of cannabinoids against neuroblastoma cells—a severe form of cancer commonly affecting young children.
The 14-member research team, comprising both government agency scientists and university researchers, initially set out to assess eleven cannabis-derived compounds. Interestingly, Cannabielsoxa was not one of the compounds originally targeted for its anti-tumour properties, but turned out to be an accidental but potentially important discovery.
The significance of Cannabielsoxa lies not only in its novelty but also in the discovery of two additional chlorin-like molecules, ligulariaphytin A and 132-hydroxyphosphorbide EE B, which were found in cannabis for the first time. These substances, structurally more similar to molecules found in algae and resilient plants than to typical cannabinoids, hint at an entirely new dimension of cannabis chemistry, potentially involving photoreactive medicinal applications.
Cannabielsoxa itself does not show strong activity in isolated form, but its structural stability suggests considerable potential as a carrier or modulator molecule in therapeutic formulations. Its discovery could soon trigger intense patent competition, particularly focussing on photodynamic therapy for cancer treatments, an area currently experiencing rapid growth and innovation.
To be more specific, the South Korean researchers tested eleven different substances contained in cannabis - cannabinoids - to see if they could kill cancer cells of a type of cancer called neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma is a common and serious cancer that mainly affects young children.
The researchers discovered that seven of these eleven cannabis-derived compounds (including cannabidiol (CBD), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabidiolic acid methyl ester (CBDA-ME), delta-8-THC cannabichromene (CBG) and cannabielsoxa) exhibited significant cytotoxic effects on neuroblastoma cells, meaning they could severely damage these cancer cells. These findings are highly relevant for the development of new therapeutic options especially for paediatric onkology (medical field for childhood cancers).
The discovery also has far-reaching implications for medical cannabis policy. The apparently clear anti-tumour potential of cannabinoids shows that they are not only a palliative option, but may also be an important research subject for future cancer treatment, particularly in paediatric oncology. Furthermore, the emergence of chlorin-cannabinoid hybrids may soon prompt regulators such as the Cannabis Data Hub (CDH) to establish these substances as separate categories within cannabinoid classification systems.
While Cannabielsoxa has only subtle direct effects, it may play a central role in modulating biochemical communication in biological systems. By potentially enhancing acetylcholine signalling and facilitating synergistic interactions between cannabinoids, it acts metaphorically as a “signalling wire” rather than an “instrument”, highlighting its crucial regulatory role in medicinal cannabis applications.
Cannabis-derived substances continue to show substantial potential for treating cancer, supported by accumulating evidence from multiple studies over recent years. Ongoing research into cannabinoids, therefore, deserves greater attention and increased funding to explore their full therapeutic capabilities.