In late 2019, scientists at the University of Modena in Italy discovered a new cannabinoid called THCP (δ9-tetrahydroaminophenol), which caused an industry stir when their findings were published in the journal Nature in late 2019.
More recently there has been a more controversial noise about THCP: the psychoactive (addictive, hallucinogenic, etc.) effects of marijuana, which have long been attributed to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), may, in fact, be due to the presence of THCP.
Plant cannabinoids are plant-specific cannabinoid molecules. There are several types of cannabinoids: endocannabinoids (naturally produced by the body), synthetic cannabinoids (synthetic), and plant cannabinoids (mainly derived from cannabis).
More than 150 cannabinoids have been identified in cannabis plants, but most of the research has focused on two cannabinoids, THC and CBD, and even "many cannabinoids have not been isolated or identified." Today, the THCP has been "isolated and fully identified" by the researchers, and "stereoselective synthesis confirms this configuration." .
THCP activity is 33 times that of THC
The Italian team studied a medicinal cannabis strain called FM2, supplied by the Military Chemical Institute in Florence. After identifying THCP, the team began focusing on the compound.
They tested the cultured cells in vitro. In this study, synthetic cannabinoids were used as reference materials to detect the binding affinity between THCP and endocannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. The results showed that THCP activity was 33 times that of THC in Delta-9, and THCP was 0.0029% in FM2 and 3.9% in THC, which was more active than THC even though the content was small.
The researchers also tested the molecule for cannabinoid activity in mice, and THCP's effects on body temperature, spontaneous activity, pain, and more were determined. The results confirmed that THCP acts similarly to other cannabinoids, such as Delta-9 THC.
Is THCP more Harmful?
According to studies, even at low doses, THCP has more cannabinoid activity than THC. The team believes THCP could explain the wide range of changes in patient responses to cannabis therapy, even in strains with the same dose. Whether this means that the psychoactive effects of cannabis could be due mainly to the presence of THCP.
However, experts in the field do have a different take on the study. Dr Cecilia J Heard, of the Medical College of Wisconsin, said: "This study seems to me that THC is relatively safe because of its low effectiveness at the receptor. They should compare the in vivo effects of THCP and THC in order to assess the relative efficacy. Second, I want to know if THCP is more effective at activating the CB1 receptor, whether it's a partial agonist or a full agonist, and if it's the latter, and if so, then strains that produce moderate amounts of THCP have more psychiatric side effects."
Dr Samuel Banister, from the University of Sydney, said: "He disagrees with the panel's assessment that THCP may explain the variability of psychogenic effects across cannabis strains, and that the abundance of each cannabinoid in cannabis varies widely. I don't think that trace amounts of plant-like 'toxins' like THCP have a significant effect on the psychoactivity of different strains of cannabis."
The medical and recreational applications of the new cannabinoids need further research.
