molecules Review (-)-Cannabidiolic Acid, a Still Overlooked Bioactive Compound: An Introductory Review and Preliminary Research Marialuisa Formato 1, Giuseppina Crescente 1, Monica Scognamiglio 1 , Antonio Fiorentino 1 , Maria Tommasina Pecoraro 1, Simona Piccolella 1 , Michelina Catauro 2 and Severina Pacifico 1,* 1 Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy;
[email protected] (M.F.);
[email protected] (G.C.);
[email protected] (M.S.); antonio.fi
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[email protected] (S.P.) 2 Department of Engineering, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Roma 29, I-81031 Aversa, Italy;
[email protected] * Correspondence: severina.pacifi
[email protected] Academic Editor: Laura De Martino Received: 1 May 2020; Accepted: 4 June 2020; Published: 5 June 2020 Abstract: Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) is the main phytocannabinoid in fiber and seed-oil hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) plants, but its potential health-related capabilities have been masked for years by a greater scientific interest towards its neutral derivative cannabidiol (CBD). This review aims to collect from the literature and critically discuss all the information about this molecule, starting from its biosynthesis, and focusing on its bioactivity, as an anti-inflammatory, anti-emetic, anti-convulsant, and anti-cancerogenic drug. Furthermore, in the awareness that, despite its multiple bioactive effects, currently poor efforts have been made to achieve its reliable purification, herein, we propose a relatively simple, fast, and inexpensive procedure for its recovery from pollen of industrial hemp cultivars. Spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques allowed us to unequivocally identify pure isolated CBDA and to distinguish it from the constitutional isomer tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA-A).