Major phytocannabinoid
UnscheduledCBCACannabichromenic acid
5-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(4-methylpent-3-enyl)-7-pentylchromene-6-carboxylic acid
Aliases.acide cannabichroménique · CBC-A · Cannabichromenic acid
The acid, unheated form of cannabichromene (CBC).
Updated on
Level of detail
Harm-reduction warning
No characterised human dose: animal / in vitro data only. Effect profile, safety margin and acute toxicity are not documented in human clinical practice. Extremely potent compound: severe effects, seizures and deaths reported in the literature.
Identifiers
- Formula
- C₂₂H₃₀O₄
- Molar mass
- 358.50 g·mol⁻¹
- CAS
- 20408-52-0
- PubChem CID
- 3084339
- First described
- 1968
- Origin
- Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.): a natural acidic cannabinoid present in the fresh plant
- InChIKey
- HRHJHXJQMNWQTF-UHFFFAOYSA-N
In plain terms
CBCA is the acid, natural form of CBC, as found in the hemp plant before any heating.
Receptors and activity
- CB1Modulator
- CB2Modulator
- Agonist
- Partial agonist
- Antagonist
- Modulator
- Inverse agonist
Hover over a row for the precise value (Ki, EC50…)
Subjective signature
Hover over an axis to read its definition.
- Calm25
- Clarity15
- Sleep15
- Appetite20
- High10
Editorial estimate, not clinical.
Pharmacology
CBCA (cannabichromenic acid) is a minor acidic cannabinoid, the direct precursor of cannabichromene (CBC). It is synthesised in the plant from cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) under the action of CBCA synthase, which closes the side chain into a chromene ring (source: PubChem; Wikipedia). Non-intoxicating, it converts into CBC by decarboxylation under the effect of heat. Its own properties remain little characterised: the available data concern chiefly its decarboxylated derivative, CBC, which notably modulates the CB2 receptor and the TRPA1 channel.
Biosynthetic pathway
CBCA is produced in the hemp plant from cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), the common precursor of the cannabinoids. The enzyme CBCA synthase catalyses the oxidative cyclisation of the monoterpene chain of CBGA (or of its isomer, cannabinerolic acid) to form the characteristic chromene nucleus. Subsequent decarboxylation, brought about by heat or ageing, converts CBCA into cannabichromene (CBC).
Legal framework
France
In France, CBCA is not classified as a narcotic: it is a non-psychoactive acidic cannabinoid, the natural precursor of CBC, whose chromene structure does not share the benzo[c]chromene nucleus of THC covered by the generic clause of the ANSM Decision of 22 May 2024. Like CBC, it is not listed by name; only THC remains regulated as a narcotic.
European Union
At European Union level, CBCA is not specifically regulated: it falls under the general framework applicable to non-psychoactive cannabinoids derived from hemp, without classification as a controlled substance.
Sources: EUR-Lex, UNODC, CND, ANSM, IUPHAR/BPS, ChEBI, EUDA. Our method.
Structural classification
- Class
- Major phytocannabinoid
- Origin
- Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.): a natural acidic cannabinoid present in the fresh plant
- Status
- Unscheduled
Acide cannabinoïde de type chromène (chromén-6-carboxylique), portant une fonction phénol, une chaîne pentyle et un groupe carboxyle libre : la forme acide du cannabichromène.
Detection and analysis
En chromatographie liquide (HPLC), qui n'échauffe pas l'échantillon, le CBCA est dosé tel quel comme marqueur des cannabinoïdes acides d'une plante non chauffée ; en chromatographie gazeuse (GC), la chaleur le décarboxyle et il est alors mesuré sous la forme de CBC.
References
Structured data
- InChIKey
- HRHJHXJQMNWQTF-UHFFFAOYSA-N
- SMILES
- CCCCCC1=CC2=C(C=CC(O2)(C)CCC=C(C)C)C(=C1C(=O)O)O
- Formula
- C22H30O4
- Molar mass
- 358.50 g·mol⁻¹
- CAS
- 20408-52-0
- PubChem CID
- 3084339
LLM ingestion format: a structured superset of the entry (identifiers, binding, versioned legal status). Full corpus.