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What Is CBDV?

The hemp plant contains numerous cannabinoids– life-enhancing chemicals that interact with our bodies endocannabinoid system. Estimates range from 60 to over 140 of these different compounds, and as hemp research continues to develop, we are learning more and more about different cannabinoids every day.

One of these cannabinoids is cannabidivarin or CBDV for short. CBDV was first isolated in Germany in 1969, but research since then has been limited. This is true for many cannabinoids other than CBD. However, the research shows great promise for CBDV as a helpful compound that compliments other cannabinoids. 

CBDV Research

Chemically, we know that CBDV is structurally similar to CBD. It is a homologous molecule to CBD, which means that the basic structure is the same and the two molecules are differentiated by repeating elements such as side chains of different lengths or a peptide residue. In layman’s terms, this means that homologous molecules may have similar properties, and this does seem to be the case with CBD and CBDV. 

Biologically speaking, there are some major differences. CBD is relatively abundant, and commercial hemp strains may contain up to 30% CBD content. CBDV, however, isn’t even found in all strains of hemp. It isn’t even found in all hemp plants, and usually only makes up less than 1% of any hemp plant’s cannabinoid content. 

There are some African landrace strains of hemp that have up to 4% CBDV content, and some hemp breeders have experimented with plants and gotten results of up to 7% CBDV content. But 7% is still a long way from the quantities of CBD hemp plants can naturally produce. Also unlike CBD, CBDV is not easily produced in a lab from precursor compounds. 

Adding to the challenge of acquiring large quantities of CBDV is the fact that it is largely limited to landrace plants. Landrace hemp strains are naturally-growing hemp varieties that have not been crossbred with other strains. These plants must exist in relative isolation and have not been selected for favorable traits like commercially grown strains. CBDV is primarily found in Cannabis indica landrace plants originating in Africa, but it can also be found in somewhat elevated concentrations in indica landrace strains from Pakistan, India, and Mexico. 

While these plants can be farmed, they must be kept away from other plants to avoid the risk of cross-pollination. CBDV production is not a dominant characteristic in hemp plants, and it is a minor cannabinoid with an unknown botanical function. All of this means that there have been major stumbling blocks in researching CBDV. Even though it was first isolated in 1969, the first major research was not undertaken until 2012. There’s a lot that we don’t know yet about CBDV, but the research is very exciting.

Despite the difficulty in getting large quantities of CBDV, research has shown that it has promising effects on health. This is partially in part to how it interacts with the body. Unlike most cannabinoids, it does not react with the endocannabinoid system. Instead, it activates or desensitizes the transient receptor potential channels (TRP channels). The TRP channels play critical roles in managing our sensory systems and allow cells to detect changes in their environment. This system is linked to a number of sensory issues, as well as epilepsy and other types of seizures.

CBDV for Seizures

Beyond its anticonvulsant properties, studies have shown that there is a molecular component to the effectiveness of CBDV for epilepsy. One major study has shown that CBDV is effective in treating seizures from a variety of causes in rodent models. Additionally, CBDV treatment did not impact motor skills after recovery. This is a concern with some anti-seizure medications, and an anticonvulsant that does not cause impairments in motor skills shows potential for long-term use by chronic epilepsy patients. 

In further rodent trials, CBDV has even been shown to have an effect on epilepsy-related gene expression in brain tissues after seizures. The brain tissues’ responses were rapid and acute, and the CBDV seemed to interact directly with the brain instead of just the endocannabinoid system’s receptors. As in other trials, motor skills were also unaffected during post-seizure recovery. This indicates great promise for CBDV as a seizure medication. 

Drug trials for a CBDV-based seizure medication are already in progress. The pharmaceutical company GW Pharmaceuticals, manufacturers of the CBD-based Epidiolex, is currently recruiting for Stage III trials of their CBDV-based anti-convulsant for temporal lobe seizures. 

CBDV and Rett Syndrome

Rett Syndrome is caused by mutations on the X chromosome, it is characterized by the impairment of cognitive, sensory, emotional, motor, and autonomic function. Symptoms include repetitive hand movements, slower brain growth and intellectual disability. A rodent trial found that CBDV may contribute to reversing the deterioration and atrophy of the brain areas involved in Rett syndrome, and human trials demonstrated that a dose of 10 mg per day of CBDV a day significantly reduced seizures. 

Additionally, this trial showed that  Rett Syndrome patients who took CBDV also scored higher in areas including sociability, general health, brain weight, and hormone activity in the hippocampus (the part of the brain responsible for emotion and memory). This suggests that CBDV may also help with the non-seizure aspects of Rett Syndrome.

CBDV and Autism

CBDV has also been investigated for its therapeutic use for people on the autism spectrum. CBDV reacts with the brain’s excitation pathways, which are easily overstimulated and lead to repetitive behaviors that can interfere with an autistic person’s quality of life. CBDV is currently being trialed as a way to help autistic people manage their behavioral symptoms and mental health concerns. Additionally, autism and epilepsy frequently occur together, so a compound that can treat issues stemming from both may be beneficial to many people. 

CBDV also shows promise as a treatment for children with intellectual disabilities and may reduce the number of severe behavioral problems in these children, making it easier to keep them safe and care for them. CBDV is much gentler than sedatives, benzodiazepines, and other depressants. Additionally, it seems to have fewer short term and long term side effects and does not have a long term negative effect on gross motor skills, meaning that is likely a safer alternative to help these children.

Other Benefits of CBDV

Like many other cannabinoids, CBDV is effective at reducing nausea. This has been shown in studies using various animal models and is not surprising given that the first medically approved use for any cannabinoid was for nausea and vomiting. 

CBDV also shows promise as an acne treatment when used topically due to its anti-inflammatory nature. CBDV reduces the buildup of dead skin cells and lipids that form around inflamed skin, which is what causes acne breakouts. This is a topical application of CBDV and other key cannabinoids. 

How To Take CBDV

There is no psychoactive component to CBDV. It will not get you high or cause any kind of motor impairments. However, despite being totally legal in the United States, it can be difficult to find CBDV for sale. This is because landrace hemp strains are not the same things as commercial hemp, and so there are more restrictions around this kind of hemp. Furthermore, landraces typically contain a higher THC content than is allowed to be commercially grown in the United States. This means that acquiring pure therapeutic CBDV can be a challenge. 

We hold the CBDV that we offer here at Myriam’s Hemp to the same high standards of purity and quality that we hold all of our CBD products. You can rest assured that the CBDV we offer is made with natural, organic, high-quality ingredients. This includes our carrier oils, as well as the cannabinoids we offer. All of our products are lab tested and guaranteed to be free of sugars and other fillers.

Our CBDV tincture is best taken like all of our other tinctures. Simply use the dropper to place your dosage under your tongue, or mix it into a beverage if you prefer to take it that way. 

Buy CBDV at Myriam’s Hemp

At Myriam’s Hemp, our goal is to help you make the most of your cannabinoid experience. We believe in our products and want to help you take control of your health by offering premium hemp products, like CBD, CBG, CBN, CBDA, CBGA, and CBDV tinctures and topicals.

Our cannabinoid products are created with quality at the forefront, and we are constantly striving to enhance our offerings. Our products are designed with the goal of providing you with the relief you’re looking for and helping you manage your health without total reliance on traditional pharmaceuticals. Shop Myriam’s Hemp online and order your cannabinoid products today.

References

• Cannabivarin and Tetrahydrocannabivarin, Two New Constituents of Hashish
• Cannabidivarin-rich cannabis extracts are anticonvulsant in mouse and rat via a CB1 receptor-independent mechanism
• TRP Channels
• Cannabidivarin is anticonvulsant in mouse and rat
• Cannabidivarin (CBDV) suppresses pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced increases in epilepsy-related gene expression
• A Study of GWP42006 in People With Focal Seizures – Part B
• Chronic treatment with the phytocannabinoid Cannabidivarin (CBDV) rescues behavioral alterations and brain atrophy in a mouse model of Rett syndrome
• Efficacy and safety of cannabidivarin treatment of epilepsy in girls with Rett syndrome: A phase 1 clinical trial
• Effects of cannabidivarin (CBDV) on brain excitation and inhibition systems in adults with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): a single dose trial during magnetic resonance spectroscopy
• Cannabidivarin (CBDV) vs. Placebo in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy: Disorders with a shared biology
• A pilot randomized placebo-controlled trial of cannabidiol to reduce severe behavioral problems in children and adolescents with intellectual disability
• Evaluation of the potential of the phytocannabinoids, cannabidivarin (CBDV) and Δ(9) -tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), to produce CB1 receptor inverse agonism symptoms of nausea in rats
• Effect of Phytocannabinoids on Nausea and Vomiting
• Differential effectiveness of selected non-psychotropic phytocannabinoids on human sebocyte functions implicates their introduction in dry/seborrhoeic skin and acne treatment