UNLV Researchers Develop Safer, More Effective CBD-Based Seizure Treatment
A team of researchers from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) has made a groundbreaking discovery in the world of CBD medicine. By using a common kitchen spice — caraway seeds — the team has created a new class of CBD-like compounds that could offer safer, more affordable, and more effective treatments for childhood seizure disorders.
Caraway seeds, often used in cooking for their aromatic flavor, hold the key to this innovation. By modifying the chemical structure of carvone, the main compound in caraway, scientists were able to enhance the therapeutic effects of CBD while eliminating THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis. The result is a set of THC-free, CBD-inspired medicines that show powerful seizure-reducing properties in preclinical trials.
These new compounds not only prevented seizures but also reduced seizure-related deaths and improved healthy brain cell development. Unlike traditional anticonvulsant drugs such as benzodiazepines, the CBD-based treatments developed by UNLV researchers avoided sedative side effects and long-term cognitive risks.
“This is an exciting step forward for patients who have exhausted existing treatment options,” said Dustin Hines, a UNLV neuroscience professor and co-author of the study. “Our goal is to create CBD-like medicines that are more accessible, safe, and effective for children and families dealing with epilepsy.”
The study, recently published in Neuropsychopharmacology, highlights how CBD continues to inspire medical innovation. Although the FDA-approved medication Epidiolex remains the only prescription CBD drug for certain severe seizure conditions, its cannabis-derived origins create regulatory challenges.
Lead student researcher Adriana Carrillo emphasized that while caraway seeds don’t naturally contain CBD, they provide a chemical framework to create these powerful new compounds. “Caraway seeds are the scaffold for producing these molecules,” she explained. “
The discovery demonstrates the growing potential of CBD research to deliver more sustainable medical solutions. As scientists at UNLV and New Mexico State University continue their collaboration, they believe these early breakthroughs could pave the way for future human trials and, eventually, regulatory approval.
In the broader picture, the project underscores how CBD-inspired science is evolving not only refining what we know about cannabinoids but also expanding possibilities for treating epilepsy and other neurological disorders worldwide.
