WeeklySA_AdminBREAKTHROUGH: Australian university’s discovery of a compound in the dagga plant brings hope to millions of others suffering from other neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis sufferers…
By WSAM Reporter
Scientists at the University of South Australian (uniSA) have come up with an innovative solution to improve the effectiveness of cannabidiol to treat epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant, is widely prescribed for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, but its clinical applications to date have been limited by its poor water solubility and absorption in the human body.
By developing a phospholipid complex – a class of lipids (fats) that contain phosphorus – UniSA researchers have increased the solubility of cannabidiol by up to six times and improved its absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.
Lead researcher Professor Sanjay Garg says the breakthrough, reported in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, means that patients could experience more consistent and effective results with lower doses of oral CBD medications.
Currently, only a small fraction of orally ingested CBD reaches the bloodstream, limiting its therapeutic effects.
“For this reason, a number of different formulations have been explored, including the production of synthetic CBD, self-emulsifying delivery systems, and encapsulating CBD in gelatine matrix pellets, but all of them have only resulted in minor improvements in bioavailability,” Prof Garg says.
Epilepsy is a significant public health issue in Africa, with an estimated 25 million people affected, and the majority residing in low- and middle-income countries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that epilepsy affects about 50 million people worldwide, of which about 10 million reside in Africa. In South Africa, epilepsy affects about 500 000 people. It also estimates that about 100 million people will have a seizure at some point at least once in their lifetime; about 50 million will have recurrent seizures, of which 40 million will go untreated.
With the global CBD market projected to grow from 7.59 billion US dollars (nearly R145bn) in 2023 to 202 billion US dollars (R3,7 trillion) by 2032, the findings of this study come at a crucial time, according to the authors of the research.
The uniSA research team identified the optimal phospholipid composition to form nanosized CBD-PLC particles. Compared to pure CBD, the phospholipid complex improved dissolution rates from 0% to 67.1% within three hours, demonstrating a significant enhancement in drug release.
In cellular uptake studies, CBD-PLC exhibited 32.7% higher permeability than unmodified CBD, ensuring greater absorption through the intestinal wall.
Another critical advantage of this new delivery system is its stability. Traditional CBD formulations degrade over time when exposed to heat, light or oxygen, reducing potency and shelf life.
However, testing over 12 months showed that CBD-PLC retained its performance under varied storage conditions, making it a more reliable option for pharmaceutical applications. The study’s lead research, UniSA PhD candidate, Thabata Muta, says the discovery has significant implications for the future of CBD-based therapeutics.
“Improved bioavailability means that lower doses can achieve the same therapeutic effect, potentially reducing side effects and making treatment more cost effective,” Thabata says.
The research team believes that this innovation could be applied beyond CBD, providing a blueprint for enhancing the absorption of other poorly water-soluble drugs.
The team is now exploring opportunities for commercialisation and clinical trials to validate their new formulation.
