For the first time, scientists at Stellenbosch University report the identification of a previously unreported class of rare compounds in cannabis called flavoalkaloids. A majority of cannabis research to date has centered on well-known cannabinoids like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Found in the leaves of the cannabis plant, flavoalkaloids are plant molecules that combine structural features of flavonoids and alkaloids. The study, published in ScienceDirect, identified 79 different phenolic compounds in three commercial cannabis strains grown in South Africa. “Our analysis again highlights the medicinal potential of cannabis plant material, currently regarded as waste,” de Villiers said.