Scientists Resurrect Ancient Cannabis Enzymes for New Medicines

Scientists just achieved something that sounds like science fiction: they resurrected ancient cannabis enzymes from millions of years ago, and these molecular fossils might revolutionize how we make life-saving medicines.

Researchers at Wageningen University in the Netherlands used genetic detective work to recreate enzymes that existed in prehistoric cannabis plants. When they brought these ancient proteins back to life in the lab, they discovered something remarkable: these old enzymes were actually better at their job than their modern descendants.

Today's cannabis plants produce highly specialized enzymes that create specific compounds like THC and CBD. But their ancient ancestors were generalists, capable of producing multiple medicinal compounds from a single source. What evolution seemingly left behind turns out to be exactly what medical science needs now.

The breakthrough is especially exciting for a lesser-known compound called cannabichromene, or CBC. Modern cannabis plants contain less than 1% of this compound, making it nearly impossible to study properly. Early research suggests CBC could fight inflammation, prevent seizures, and kill bacteria, but scientists have struggled to produce enough to test it thoroughly.

The resurrected enzymes solve this problem beautifully. They can generate CBC and other rare cannabinoids much more efficiently than modern plant varieties. Even better, these ancient enzymes work wonderfully in yeast cells, meaning scientists can produce medical compounds in laboratories without growing cannabis plants at all.

Robin van Velzen, who led the research team, explains that what once looked evolutionarily unfinished is actually highly useful. These ancestral enzymes are more robust and flexible than anything nature produces today. They're easier to manufacture and can create compounds that modern plants simply can't make in meaningful quantities.

The implications reach far beyond cannabis. This approach of resurrecting ancient enzymes could transform how we develop all kinds of medications. Instead of being limited to what modern organisms produce, scientists can now reach back through evolutionary history to find better molecular tools.

For patients waiting for new treatments for chronic pain, epilepsy, or bacterial infections, this research offers genuine hope. The team has already designed hybrid enzymes that combine the best traits of ancient and modern versions, accelerating the path from laboratory discovery to actual medicines.

The study appears in Plant Biotechnology Journal, marking a major step forward in both understanding plant evolution and harnessing it for human health.