Cannabis Leaves Harbor Rare Compounds with Medical Potential
Researchers at Stellenbosch University analyzed three cannabis strains and found 79 phenolic compounds, 25 of which were new to Cannabis, including 16 tentatively classified as flavoalkaloids—the first evidence of this rare group in Cannabis leaves. Using two-dimensional liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry, they observed that these flavoalkaloids are concentrated mainly in leaves of one strain, underscoring substantial chemical variation and suggesting that cannabis leafy material—often discarded—may have unexplored medical potential beyond cannabinoids.
