When it comes to the science of CBD, things can get complicated. Discussing cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids is one thing but knowing exactly what each of these compounds are and how they affect our bodies is quite another. Learning often requires sifting through a multitude of research, blog posts, and scientific studies. For those without a background in chemistry, this can be a daunting task. Finding information that’s accessible isn’t always easy, and all the chemical jargon only adds to the difficulty.

Since we’ve already spoken about cannabinoids, we thought it was about time to dive into flavonoids. These chemicals are known for being an important aspect of Full Spectrum CBD and a part of the ‘entourage effect;’ a dynamic that researchers describe as magnifying the therapeutic benefits of the plant’s individual components. However, this description says little about what they actually are and how they affect our bodies.

While flavonoids have been heavily researched within the context of health and nutrition, the studies bridging flavonoids and CBD are still limited. Until more research is conducted on the unique relationship between flavonoids and CBD, we’ll focus on what’s available.

What are Flavonoids?

Flavonoids are compounds found within many fruits, vegetables, and plants, including tea and coffee. They’re classified as a type of phytonutrient, which are naturally occurring chemicals that contributes to our overall health. Although there are 12 categories to classify flavonoids, only six of them are dietary: Flavanols, Flavan-3-ols, Flavones, Flavanones, Isoflavones, and Anthocyanins. Each one of these categories are found within different foods and plants, and have their own unique properties and affects.

In the context of food and nutrition, flavonoids are known for being full of antioxidants and are fairly well established for having anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antibacterial properties. There’s also been research to suggest that flavonoids might be a way to manage high blood pressure, decrease risk of type 2 diabetes, or stop cancer cells from multiplying. That said, more studies are needed before we can say anything for sure.

It is worth noting, however, that despite research suggesting health benefits, flavonoids are known for having low bioavailability. This means that even though we might consume foods full of these nutrients, our bodies are not absorbing a large amount of them. Ways to increase the bioavailability of flavonoids are currently being investigated.

Flavonoids and CBD – The State of the Science

The majority of research conducted with flavonoids has been done outside the context of CBD, usually in relation to food and nutrition. While it would be easy to assume that these findings also apply to the flavonoids found within CBD, this isn’t necessarily the case. Questions of bioavailability and whether the health benefits associated with flavonoids are accessible through the consumption of CBD is still being studied. Despite all the research done on specific types of flavonoids, often in isolation, we don’t know what these results mean in the context of CBD specifically.

We’ve seen some research on the kinds of flavonoids present within cannabis and roughly twenty flavonoids have been found. That said, it’s important to note that the flavonoid profile of a plant can vary widely depending on the cultivar and how it was grown. The majority of these flavonoids fit within the flavone or flavonol categories, though some strains may have contain anthocyanins as well.

More recently, there’s been excitement around cannflavin, specifically type A and B, which is a kind of flavone solely found within hemp and cannabis plants. These compounds are said to have a greater anti-inflammatory effect than that of aspirin, and they are currently being investigated as alternatives to other pain-management drugs. It was noted, however, that only a small amount of cannflavin is found within cannabis, so researchers are looking to develop an alternative system for creating these chemicals.

Flavones, Flavonols, and Anthocyanins

Flavones can be found within plants like chamomile, parsley, peppermint, or a variety of teas. They can also be located within fruits, vegetables, and juices. They are said to act like a natural pesticide, protecting the plant against insects or disease. Some specific flavones found within hemp and cannabis includes Apigenin, Luteolin, and Orientin.

Flavonols are generally located within the leaves or skin of fruits, vegetables, and plants. They’re often found in things like onions, leeks, broccoli, berries, and teas. Types of flavonols that may be found within CBD are quercetin and kaempferol.

Generally credited for providing bright purple hues to a variety of fruits and vegetables, Anthocyanins have also been found within hemp and cannabis strains, particularly the purple ones. The more anthocyanins a plant has, the more vibrant purple it will be.

As mentioned before, however, any research done into the effects of these particular flavonoids has been conducted in the nutritional context, often done by isolating the flavonoids and investigating them in a controlled environment. This means that applying these results to CBD is still premature.

TL;DR

As of right now, we know that flavonoids play a role in CBD’s ‘entourage effect.’ More recently, the cannabis specific flavonoid, cannflavin, is being research for its pain-relieving properties. That said, most studies investigating flavonoids and their effects have been conducted within the health and nutritional context. This means that a lot more research is needed before we understand the effects of flavonoids found within CBD specifically.