According to a new study, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), a compound found in cannabis, may be useful in treating neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases.

“While the biological effects of decarboxylated cannabinoids such as Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) have been extensively investigated, the bioactivity of Δ9-THCA is largely unknown, despite its occurrence in different Cannabis preparations”, states the study, published in the British Journal of Pharmacology. “The aim of this study was to determine whether Δ9-THCA modulates the PPARγ pathway and has neuroprotective activity”.

For the study; “The effects of six phytocannabinoids on PPARγ binding and transcriptional activity were investigated. The effect of Δ9-THCA on mitochondrial biogenesis and PGC-1α expression was investigated in N2a cells.” The neuroprotective effect “was analysed in STHdhQ111/Q111 cells expressing a mutated form of the huntingtin protein, and in N2a cells infected with an adenovirus carrying human huntingtin containing 94 polyQ repeats (mHtt-q94).” In vivo neuroprotective activity of Δ9-THCA “was investigated in mice intoxicated with the mitochondrial toxin 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP).”

After conducting the above-mentioned research, researchers conclude that; “Δ9-THCA shows potent neuroprotective activity, worth consideration for the treatment of Huntington´s Disease and possibly other neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases.”

The full study can be found by clicking here.