Mosses can replace medical marijuana in the future

Scientists have published in Science Advances magazine about a new discovery in finding alternative sources of medical marijuana in pain relief for patients.

The new finding suggests that the genus Radula perrottetii, found in Japan, Costa Rica, New Zealand and Tasmania, has the same active ingredients as Tetrahydrocannabinol in medical marijuana. Usually in marijuana there are three main substances found: Cannabinoid, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabinol .

Mossy genus Radula perrottetii is believed to be capable of replacing medical marijuana in the future.

According to scientists, in the algae genus Radula perrottetii , there exists a substance called Perrotetinene that has the same effect as THC in marijuana, although it is slightly lower. Laboratory tests on mice initially showed an analgesic effect like medicine .

Scientists then continued to construct the molecular structure of Perrotetinene and created a synthetic version of the test on mice.

The team closely monitored the painful reaction of mice tested with body temperature reactions, psychological manifestations after using the new compound. Results showed that Perrotetinene may have a slightly lower effect than THC.

However, according to researcher Jürg Gertsch, a biochemical researcher at the University of Bern, Switzerland, the new compound found in the moss is a little albeit, but on the contrary, it leaves little effect. More negative side than medical marijuana like memory loss on patients using.

"The moss is so small around us that we seem to have forgotten it. Sometimes, important compounds for the medical industry are found in unexpected places , " Douglas Kinghorn, a Chemistry researcher. Plants at Ohio State University (USA) said.

Currently, researchers are continuing to study more about the moss-spotted genus Radula perrottetii with future applications. At the same time, researchers also hope this will be a new solution in the future that can replace marijuana.