Researchers from the University of Sydney have confirmed that the cannabis ingredient cannabinol (CBN) can increase sleep in rats. CBN is a breakdown product of the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, THC.
The researchers found that CBN and its metabolites extended periods of both non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in rats, comparable to the effects of popular sleep aids. REM sleep helps with processing emotions, while NREM sleep is associated with essential body repairs.
While purified CBN products are sold as sleep medications in the US, robust evidence for its sleep-inducing benefits was previously lacking. This study provides the first objective evidence that CBN increases sleep, at least in rats, by modifying the architecture of sleep in a beneficial way.
The researchers discovered that the metabolite 11-hydroxy-CBN, produced by the breakdown of CBN, has a stronger effect on the CB1 cannabinoid receptors in the brain than CBN itself. These receptors are important for managing sleep, suggesting CBN’s metabolites may have a more significant influence on sleep than CBN alone.
The findings encourage further research on CBN as a potential new treatment strategy for sleep disorders, including insomnia. However, the researchers caution that the results are currently limited to testing in rats, and more research is needed to see if the effects translate to humans.
Source: ScienceAlert
