Hemp Family Tree and Cannamimetics
Cannamimetics simply means following Mother Nature’s lead. It is well known and extensively researched that during a hemp plant’s growth, various enzymatic, oxidation, photochemical and other bioprocesses produce cannabinoids and other bioactive compounds, transforming them during the course of the plant’s growth cycle.
At harvest there are well over 500 phytochemicals present in the hemp plant. No wonder the trichome is called a pharma factory. There are even more identified natural compounds when you count those that appear and then phytosynthesize into other compounds.
You have probably heard that CBGA is the mother cannabinoid, the precursor to both the CBD and THC sides of the family tree of cannabinoids. For this reason, harvesting hemp very early yields higher levels of CBGA and CBG, anti-inflammatory bioactives, compared to later in the plant’s life when there are miniscule amounts. Different enzymatic reactions in the plant create the varinol branch of the family and orcinol branch. Of note, the highly sought after cannabinoid, THC-V, doesn’t even come from the THC side of the family.
On the marijuana (high THC) side of the cannabis sativa plant family, you’ve probably heard that old weed is sleepy time weed, often referred to as couch weed. A more scientific description is that THC degrades with time, temperature, and UV-light, oxidizing to become CBN. Studying the biological and chemical processes in the hemp plant reveal that CBG begets CBC and in turn begets CBL and then CBT. And don’t forget the lineage of CBGA, CBD, CBE, and CBF. Pretty cool!
Of critical importance to hemp growers is closely tracking the increase in THC levels during the last few weeks before harvest. In just a few days during late stage maturation, hemp can go “hot” with the THC level shooting up from low concentrations in high CBD potency hemp varieties to THC levels that exceed the Federal limit of no more than 0.3% to qualify as legal hemp. A crop can become illegal after a particularly hot day if not immediately harvested and lawfully must be destroyed. Uncool!
Growing conditions are constantly changing. Daily and nightly temperatures differ each growth season. The character and amount of light, humidity, timing of water input, soil and nutrients factors, stresses like pests and biologic contaminants, and other conditions are never exactly the same, harvest to harvest, even with indoor grown hemp. Variation is inherent in Mother Nature.
PPM coined the term cannamimetic to describe naturally inspired ways to access the important bioactive, “minor” cannabinoids that currently manifest in existing hemp cultivars in de minimis concentrations. More consistent and effective plant-based extracts and concentrates can be formulated with these cannabinoids. Basically, PPM customized an existing scientific term, biomimetic, which means copying biochemical processes in Nature. A paper by Hanus, Meyer, et al succinctly captures the essence of cannamimetics: “Nature is a biogenetically (sic) tinkerer, and prefers to re-use, recycle and re-assemble rather than creating ex novo something new.”
PPM’s New CBN and CBG Products
PPM applies cannamimetics science and methodologies to bring its CPG and contract manufacturing company customers with distinctive whole plant extracts, concentrates, and oils with tailored profiles of cannabinoids, terpenes and other phytochemicals with therapeutic attributes. Consistently.
Just this month, PPM began offering hemp-derived CBN concentrate oil at levels of purity greater than 70%.
CBG is also now available in a whole plant, full spectrum CBD oil at either a 10:1 or 5:1 ratio, CBD:CBG.
PPM scientists are currently working on proprietary techniques to process, isolate and purify the acidic versions of cannabinoids recognized to have therapeutic properties like THC-V, CBDV, and CBV. CBC, CBT and other cannabinoid-based products are also PPM R&D priorities.
The scientific backgrounds and research CVs of PPM’s R&D team which includes three PhDs in organic chemistry and plant medicine are evidence of PPM’s commitment to advancing the science and providing innovative CBD and minor cannabinoid-based ingredients to leading consumer product supply chains worldwide.
David Symonsbergen
Chief Science Officer
If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to email David at
[email protected]
