Study: Chlorophyll Compounds Boost CBD Bioavailability and Therapeutic Effects

The study suggests that these natural compounds act as bioenhancers, improving the solubility, absorption, and therapeutic outcomes of CBD. The team of researchers from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and the Shenkar College of Engineering compared extracts with high and low chlorophyll content, both containing similar cannabinoid profiles. They discovered that extracts rich in chlorophyll derivatives increased CBD’s dispersibility in water by 1.59 times compared to extracts with lower levels. When the low-chlorophyll extract was fortified with pheophytins, it achieved nearly identical results to the naturally high-chlorophyll extract.

Advanced imaging confirmed the formation of stable, spherical nanodispersions in pheophytin-rich samples, providing insight into how these compounds aid cannabinoid delivery. In animal testing, rats given pheophytin-rich extracts displayed more than double the maximum plasma concentration and overall exposure to CBD.

These pharmacological improvements translated into therapeutic benefits. In a seizure model involving mice, extracts enriched with pheophytins reduced seizure incidence, delayed onset, and improved survival rates.

The findings highlight that variability among medical cannabis extracts may not stem solely from differences in minor cannabinoids, as often believed. Instead, chlorophyll derivatives may be a key factor influencing both bioavailability and clinical effects, underscoring their importance in whole-plant cannabis preparations.