Faster Relief: New CBD Formula Boosts Absorption by 6x

Cannabidiol (CBD), a compound derived from cannabis, has shown benefits in treating conditions such as seizures, pain and neurological problems. However, its oral use is limited because it is difficult for the body to absorb due to its low solubility and instability. This study proposed a solution using phospholipids, substances present in cell membranes, to improve the absorption of CBD. The research showed that this combination, called CBD-PLC, increases the solubility, stability and absorption of CBD, offering a more effective and safe way to use the compound in the treatment of various conditions.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound derived from the Cannabis sativa plant that has no psychoactive effect, that is, it does not cause the "high" associated with marijuana.

CBD has gained a lot of attention for its potential therapeutic applications in various health conditions, such as controlling seizures, relieving pain, improving neurodegenerative problems, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, in addition to having anxiolytic effects (which help reduce anxiety) and antidepressant effects.

It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and is considered safe for human use. In 2018, the US FDA approved Epidiolex®, a CBD-based medication, to treat seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes in children aged one year and older.

This type of approval has helped to increase the consumption of CBD products, with the global CBD market expected to grow to a staggering $202.45 billion by 2032 in the coming years.

However, the use of CBD in clinical practice still faces some challenges, mainly in relation to its low solubility in water, which makes it difficult to absorb into the body. When taken orally, CBD has a very low bioavailability (approximately 6%), that is, the amount that reaches the blood is very small.

This is because CBD is rapidly metabolized in the liver and suffers from physical and chemical instability, especially in oily solutions. Despite attempts to improve these problems with different formulations, such as self-emulsifying systems or encapsulation, results are still limited.

Oily formulations, for example, although they improve CBD solubility, do not have a great impact on bioavailability, and CBD absorption can be very variable, which makes it difficult to control the therapeutic effects.

One possible solution to these problems may be the use of phospholipid complexation (PLC) technology. Phospholipids are substances found in cell membranes and have good biocompatibility, meaning they are well tolerated by the body.

They can help improve the solubility and absorption of hydrophobic substances, such as CBD, facilitating its passage through biological barriers, such as cell membranes.

In addition, the use of phospholipids can improve the stability of CBD and provide a controlled release, reducing the need for high doses. Studies also show that phospholipids can help protect the gastrointestinal system from the effect of enzymes that would break down CBD, increasing its effectiveness.

This study, conducted by researchers at the University of South Australia, investigated the possibility of improving the bioavailability of CBD through complexation with phospholipids, creating a formulation called CBD-PLC.

The researchers assessed the integrity of the capsules in media with different pH levels. To do this, the capsules were filled with blue food coloring pellets, and the color was used as an indicator of release.

The capsules were placed in three vials on the left, containing a solution with pH 1.2, and in another three vials on the right, with MilliQ water (pH 5.1). All vials were incubated at 37°C, under constant agitation for 2 hours, to assess how the capsule would behave under these conditions.

In the vials containing MilliQ water (pH 5.1), pellet release occurred rapidly, in just 15 minutes, indicating rapid capsule disintegration. In the acidic medium (pH 1.2), release was much slower, with little visible color after 1 hour.

After 2 hours, partial dissolution of the pellets and some internal degradation were observed, as evidenced by the blue coloration, but the capsules were still structurally intact.

Since the pH of the MilliQ water ranged from 5 to 6, the researchers considered additional testing at pH 4.5 and 6.8 unnecessary. In addition, dissolution studies at pH 1.2 were not performed, since the capsules maintained their integrity for at least 2 hours under these acidic conditions.

The experiments showed that this formulation increased the solubility of CBD in water, allowing for better absorption by the body. CBD-PLC was able to release more CBD in a shorter period of time, improving its dissolution, stability and intestinal absorption.

In addition, the research also proved that this formulation was safe for use and maintained its stability for up to 12 months.

The results indicate that the use of phospholipids to deliver CBD can overcome many of the limitations of traditional formulations, offering a promising strategy for optimizing the therapeutic benefits of CBD.

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Optimising Cannabidiol Delivery: Improving Water Solubility and Permeability Through Phospholipid Complexation

Thabata Muta, Riya Khetan, Yunmei Song and Sanjay Garg

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(6), 2647.

DOI: 10.3390/ijms26062647

Abstract: 

Cannabidiol (CBD) has demonstrated therapeutic potential in treating epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Crohn’s diseases. Despite its promising effects and analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anxiolytic properties, oral CBD’s full potential is hindered by poor water solubility (0.7–10 μg/mL), low permeability, and chemical instability. This study aimed to enhance CBD’s dissolution, stability, and gastrointestinal (GI) permeability by forming a CBD–phospholipid complex (CBD-PLC). We hypothesised that CBD-PLC would enhance CBD’s hydrophilicity, thus improving GI barrier permeability. This study involved screening an optimal phospholipid (PL) using a Design of Experiments (DoE) approach to prepare CBD-PLC with nanosized droplets (194.3 nm). Dissolution studies revealed significantly enhanced release rates for CBD-PLC—44.7% at 2 h and 67.1% at 3 h—compared to 0% for pure CBD and 7.2% for a physical mixture (PM). Cellular uptake studies showed that at 30 µM, CBD-PLC exhibited 32.7% higher apparent permeability coefficients (Papp), nearly doubling at 40 µM compared to pure CBD. Cytotoxicity tests confirmed safety over 24 h, while 12-month stability tests demonstrated consistent performance under varied conditions. The results indicate that CBD-PLC improves CBD’s solubility, permeability, and stability, offering a promising strategy to address the limitations of oral CBD delivery systems.