13/12/2025
Science just found rare, medicinal compounds in cannabis.
Most cannabis growers discard the plant’s leaves after harvest—but new research suggests they might be throwing away chemical gold.
Scientists at Stellenbosch University in South Africa have identified a rare class of compounds called flavoalkaloids in cannabis leaves, marking the first time these bioactive molecules have ever been found in the plant.
Known for their powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, flavoalkaloids are extremely rare in nature and may have medical potential in treating conditions like cancer and chronic inflammation.
Using advanced chromatography and mass spectrometry, researchers analyzed three strains of cultivated cannabis and identified 79 different phenolic compounds—25 of which were previously unknown in cannabis. Sixteen of the most intriguing, the flavoalkaloids, appeared mostly in the leaves of one specific strain. This breakthrough flips conventional cannabis science on its head, which has long focused on the well-known cannabinoids THC and CBD found in the buds. The study opens a new frontier in cannabis research and suggests that what’s long been considered waste might hold powerful therapeutic potential.
Source: Muller, M. et al. (2025). “Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatographic analysis of Cannabis phenolics…” Journal of Chromatography A.