Cannabis leaves contain rare molecules once thought impossible
Botanists have discovered 'impossible' hybrid molecules hidden in the foliage of cannabis plants, debunking the myth that only the flowers hold medicinal value.
For decades, researchers focused exclusively on the resinous buds of the cannabis plant, assuming the leaves were chemically unremarkable. However, recent analysis has uncovered 'flavoalkaloids,' rare hybrid molecules that were previously thought to be biologically impossible in this species. These compounds are created when the plant's system for making colorful pigments crosses paths with its system for creating nitrogen-rich signaling chemicals. It is a form of metabolic crosstalk that scientists did not believe the plant could perform.
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