A study published by Scientific Reports and conducted by researchers from Vilnius University and the Polish Academy of Sciences found that cannabinol (CBN) and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) may help manage inflammatory pain, with both compounds reducing mechanical pain sensitivity in an animal model.

The study was conducted by researchers from Vilnius University and the Polish Academy of Sciences. It examined the effects of three phytocannabinoids, CBN, THCV and cannabidiol (CBD). in a rat model of inflammatory pain.

Researchers induced inflammatory pain in male rats through a single knee injection of complete Freund’s adjuvant, which triggered joint inflammation. One week later, the animals received four daily treatments of ibuprofen, CBN, THCV or CBD.

The injection caused several measurable effects, including synovial tissue damage, reduced locomotor activity, increased mechanical pain sensitivity, some increase in thermal pain sensitivity and loss of body weight.

According to the study, all three phytocannabinoids reduced mechanical hyperalgesia, a form of heightened pain sensitivity. The compounds had no effect or only a minor effect on locomotor activity.

CBN also reduced thermal hypersensitivity, while CBN and THCV helped restore body weight in rats that received the inflammatory injection.

CBD had a more mixed profile. While it reduced mechanical pain sensitivity, researchers reported that it also reduced body weight and increased blood monocyte and granulocyte levels above those seen in the inflammatory control group.

Researchers concluded that CBN and THCV may have use in managing inflammatory pain.