Researchers at UNLV are trying to determine if a kitchen spice could become a way to treat seizures.

Within the white, clinical walls of a nondescript UNLV lab, a small team of neuroscientists are working on a project with potentially big implications for children suffering from seizures.

Dr. Dustin Hines, professor of neuroscience at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), US, and study co-author Rochelle Hines, professor of psychology, discuss a breakthrough in seizure therapy using compounds derived from caraway seeds. By altering the shape of the seed’s main chemical component, researchers created a new class of THC-free “CBD-like” therapies that showed seizure-reducing effects and promoted healthier brain cell development in preclinical trials, potentially offering safer alternatives to current drug-resistant therapies.

While many people may consider psychedelics to be solely a recreational drug, research indicates that this drug class can be helpful in treating mental health issues such as depression and addiction.

Seizures are far more common than most people realize. Epilepsy affects about one percent of the population, making it one of the most prevalent neurological disorders worldwide. Seizures can appear at any moment in life, arising from genetic conditions, traumatic brain injuries, infections, metabolic disorders, or sometimes even no identifiable cause at all.

Cannabidiol aka CBD, is a cannabis compound with big promise. It has been touted for its wide range of potential benefits, including its FDA-approved use as a treatment for seizures. As researchers strive to gain a deeper understanding of CBD, they also aim to make it more accessible. One team at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) may have found a solution—and it could already be in your kitchen.

Researchers have created a synthetic compound from caraway seeds that shows greater effectiveness than current childhood epilepsy medications, offering hope for safer treatments without cannabis-related regulatory barriers.

A team of researchers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, has developed a new class of CBD -like compounds, but without using the cannabis plant. Instead, the scientists turned to an unexpected source: caraway seeds, a spice commonly used in breads, stews, and cheeses.