Pharmacological properties, therapeutic potential, and legal status of Cannabis sativa L.: An overview.

Pradeep Kumar, Dipendra Kumar Mahato, Madhu Kamle, Rituraj Borah, Bharti Sharma, Shikha Pandhi, Vijay Tripathi, Hardeo Singh Yadav, Sheetal Devi, Umesh Patil, Jianbo Xiao, Awdhesh Kumar Mishra

Journal: Phytotherapy research : PTR 2021;35(11):6010-6029

PMID: 34237796

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Abstract

Marijuana, or Cannabis sativa L., is a common psychoactive plant used for both recreational and medicinal purposes. In many countries, cannabis-based medicines have been legalized under certain conditions because of their immense prospects in medicinal applications. With a comprehensive insight into the prospects and challenges associated with the pharmacological use and global trade of C. sativa, this mini-review focuses on the medicinal importance of the plant and its legal status worldwide; the pharmacological compounds and its therapeutic potential along with the underlying public health concerns and future perspective are herein discussed. The existence of major compounds including Δ -tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ -THC), cannabidiol, cannabinol, and cannabichromene contributes to the medicinal effects of the cannabis plant. These compounds are also involved in the treatment of various types of cancer, epilepsy, and Parkinson's disease displaying several mechanisms of action. Cannabis sativa is a plant with significant pharmacological potential. However, several aspects of the plant need an in-depth understanding of the drug mechanism and its interaction with other drugs. Only after addressing these health concerns, legalization of cannabis could be utilized to its full potential as a future medicine.

Address: Applied Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Forestry, North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology, Nirjuli, India.; CASS Food Research Centre, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.; Department of Dairy Science and Food Technology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.; Department of Molecular and Cellular Engineering, Jacob Institute of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, India.; Department of Chemistry, North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology, Nirjuli, India.; Department of Food Science and Technology, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), Sonipat, India.; Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau.; Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, South Korea.

DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7213

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MeSH Terms: Cannabidiol, Cannabis, Dronabinol