All About THCV: What Is This Phytocannabinoid?

There are many types of cannabinoids reaching the market, including Tetradhydrocannabivarin (THCV), a phytocannabinoid that can most readily be found in significant amounts in African sativa cultivars. THCV may share its initials with its famously intoxicating cousin, but that is where the similarities end. This guide introduces you to a cannabis compound that is said to suppress appetite and quell feelings of panic

In this blog, you will learn:

  • What is THCV and how it works

  • Why consumers seek out THCV

  • How labs test for THCV potency

What is THCV?

THCV is a non-intoxicating compound found in cannabis, usually in relatively low amounts. However, given the increased popularity of cannabis extraction and distillation, THCV extract is appearing as an ingredient in many manufactured cannabis products. Also, some cultivars have been specifically bred for their relatively high levels of THCV, making this phytocannabinoid more accessible to consumers than ever before.

THCV also has a remarkably high boiling point of 220°C (428°F), compared to THC’s boiling point of 157°C (315°F). This means when vaporizing cannabis oil with high amounts of THCV, for example, higher temperatures are required to benefit from this cannabinoid. In addition to THCV extracts intended for vaporization, there are also oral and sublingual products, as well as high-THCV flower harvested from cultivars rich in the phytocannabinoid.

How does THCV work?

Researchers have observed that THCV interacts with the CB1 receptor as an inverse agonist / selective antagonist, meaning it tends to inhibit activity of the receptor. That is in direct contrast to THC, its psychotropic counterpart, which is a CB1 receptor agonist. As a result, THCV and THC often exert opposite effects. This also gives THCV the potential to ameliorate the adverse effects associated with excessive THC consumption.
Research into THCV is relatively limited and largely based on animal studies involving lab mice. Therefore, it is difficult to make any firm statements about THCV’s potential effects. However, the initial studies performed on the phytocannabinoid suggest it is worth conducting additional research.

According to a study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research in 2020, the potential therapeutic benefits of THCV include:

  • THCV is non-intoxicating: There is some evidence that THCV could even help reduce the negative side effects associated with overconsumption of THC.

  • THCV may reduce appetite: THCV seems to elicit an “anti-munchies” effect, inhibiting appetite and increasing feelings of satiety by reducing CB1 receptor activity.

  • THCV may have applications in diabetes: In addition to its appetite-curbing characteristics, which may help manage obesity in some patients with type 2 diabetes, THV could also regulate glycemic control, glucose metabolism, and energy levels.

  • THCV could offer neuroprotective benefits: The neuroprotective benefits of THC could support healthy cognitive function and maintain focus and mental acuity, as well as potentially help prevent the onset of cognitive disorders.

One double-blind, placebo-controlled human trial conducted in 2015 found THCV appears effective at reducing negative side effects associated with THC, such as increased heart rate, feelings of fear or panic, and short-term memory issues. In that study, researchers gave 10mg THCV or placebo to subjects orally for five days. On the fifth day, they administered THC intravenously and observed the THCV group’s heart rate was lower, verbal recall was higher, and subjective intensity of experience lower than the placebo group.

How do labs test for THCV potency?

When a lab conducts phytocannabinoid profiling, analysts must individually identify each phytocannabinoid and assess the quantity of each. This requires potency testing for each of the individual compounds. For phytocannabinoids, this involves High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).

In HPLC, analysts use a solvent to separate phytocannabinoids from the cannabis plant’s biomass. That solution is then passed through a solid matrix that forces compounds apart based on their varying masses. 

Once separated, analysts subject the compounds to ultraviolet (UV) light, which degrades them and forces them to convert. By measuring the rate at which each compound converts, analysts can quantify the percentage of each phytocannabinoid as a part of the whole compound profile. 

This process includes the measurement of any THCV present in the sample, as well as other familiar phytocannabinoids like THC, CBD, and CBN. Remember: there are more than 100 phytocannabinoids that have been identified across all types of cannabis plants, so there could be quite a bit to analyze in any given sample.

THCV: A distinct phytocannabinoid from THC with benefits all its own

Despite the similarities in name, THCV is a unique phytocannabinoid that carries distinct effects from THC. In many cases, as a CB1 antagonist, THCV even counteracts the effects of THC. For some consumers, heightened levels of THCV may offer a more balanced consumption experience, which could be especially preferable to those who want to avoid some of the unpleasant side effects associated with THC. 

If you are a New Jersey cannabis business, be sure to let your customers know which products contain high levels of THCV so they can properly explore its potential benefits. When working with True Labs for Cannabis, you are working with a team of professionals who built this third party analytical laboratory from the ground up with the express purpose of serving the Garden State’s cannabis community. When you need to know what is in your cannabis, it is time to partner with True Labs for Cannabis.

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