MOLECULE

Cannflavin B

Cannflavin B belongs to the class of organic compounds known as 6-prenylated flavones. These are flavones that feature a C5-isoprenoid substituent at the 6-position. There are three known cannflavins including cannflavin A, B and C. Cannflavins are unique to Cannabis sativa (PMID: 3754224). Cannflavin B was identified in Cannabis in 1985 (PMID: 3859295; PMID: 3754224). Chemically, cannflavins are prenylflavonoids and are unrelated to THC and other cannabinoids. Cannflavin B is biosynthesized via the prenylation of chrysoeriol (PMID: 31151063). Specifically, an aromatic prenyltransferase (CsPT3) catalyzes the regiospecific addition of dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) to the methylated flavone, chrysoeriol to produce Cannflavin A. Chrysoeriol is produced through the conversion of luteolin via the O-methyltransferase (CsOMT21) (PMID: 31151063). Cannflavin B is a very hydrophobic molecule, practically insoluble in water, and relatively neutral. Cannflavins exhibit anti-inflammatory activity that is thirty times that of aspirin (PMID: 31151063). It has been found that cannflavin B is an inhibitor of prostaglandin E2 production which appears to help explain its strong anti-inflammatory properties (PMID: 3859295; PMID: 3754224). Cannflavins were the first flavonoids identified to have direct inhibitory activity of two important pro-inflammatory mediators: arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and prostaglandin E synthase (mPGES-1).