Cannabichromene


Cannabichromene, also called cannabichrome, cannanbichromene, pentylcannabichromene or cannabinochromene, is one of the hundreds of cannabinoids found in the Cannabis plant, and is therefore a phytocannabinoid. It bears structural similarity to the other natural cannabinoids, including tetrahydrocannabinol, tetrahydrocannabivarin, cannabidiol, and cannabinol, among others. CBC and its derivatives are as abundant as cannabinols in cannabis. It is not scheduled by the Convention on Psychotropic Substances.

Biosynthesis

Within the Cannabis plant, CBC occurs mainly as cannabichromenic acid. Geranyl pyrophosphate and olivetolic acid combine to produce cannabigerolic acid, which is cyclized by the enzyme CBCA synthase to form CBCA. Over time, or when heated above 200° F, CBCA is decarboxylated, producing CBC. See also the biosynthetic scheme image below.

Pharmacology

As of 2017, CBC is under laboratory research to identify its possible pharmacological properties. No in vivo human studies exist as of 2019. In vitro, CBC is not active at CB1 or CB2 receptors, but is an agonist of TRPA1 and less potently, an agonist of TRPV3 and TRPV4. CBC has two stereoisomers.