Secondary Metabolites Profiled in Cannabis Inflorescences, Leaves, Stem Barks, and Roots for Medicinal Purposes

Abstract

Cannabis research has historically focused on the most prevalent cannabinoids. However, extracts with a broad spectrum of secondary metabolites may have increased efficacy and decreased adverse effects compared to cannabinoids in isolation. Cannabis's complexity contributes to the length and breadth of its historical usage, including the individual application of the leaves, stem barks, and roots, for which modern research has not fully developed its therapeutic potential. This study is the first attempt to profile secondary metabolites groups in individual plant parts comprehensively. We profiled 14 cannabinoids, 47 terpenoids (29 monoterpenoids, 15 sesquiterpenoids, and 3 triterpenoids), 3 sterols, and 7 flavonoids in cannabis flowers, leaves, stem barks, and roots in three chemovars available. Cannabis inflorescence was characterized by cannabinoids (15.77-20.37%), terpenoids (1.28-2.14%), and flavonoids (0.07-0.14%); the leaf by cannabinoids (1.10-2.10%), terpenoids (0.13-0.28%), and flavonoids (0.34-0.44%); stem barks by sterols (0.07-0.08%) and triterpenoids (0.05-0.15%); roots by sterols (0.06-0.09%) and triterpenoids (0.13-0.24%). This comprehensive profile of bioactive compounds can form a baseline of reference values useful for research and clinical studies to understand the "entourage effect" of cannabis as a whole, and also to rediscover therapeutic potential for each part of cannabis from their traditional use by applying modern scientific methodologies. Cannabis is a complex herbal medicine containing several classes of secondary metabolites, including at least 104 cannabinoids, 120 terpenoids (including 61 monoterpenes, 52 sesquiterpenoids, and 5 triterpenoids), 26 flavonoids, and 11 steroids among 545 identified compounds 1-6. The postulated biosynthetic pathways for these metabolite groups 7,8 are outlined in Fig. 1. Cannabis has attracted a new wave of interest for its broad medicinal applications as 1) an analgesic, potentially as an adjunct to or substitute for opiates in the treatment of chronic pain 9 , and 2) an appetite stimulant and digestive aid 10 , among others. Since the 1960s, the research has focussed mainly on cannabinoids, ∆ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆ 9-THC), and cannabidiol (CBD) in particular 11-28. The major psychoactive content expressed as total THC decreases in the order of inflorescences (10-12%), leaves (1-2%), stems (0.1-0.3%), roots (<0.03%), and seeds (generally absent) 29. As such, female flower tops are harvested while other parts are often discarded by growers 29. This is a potentially unnecessary waste. As an ancient medicine in various cultures, each part of the cannabis plant has been historically indicated with a wide range of applications relating mostly to painkilling, inflammation releasing, and mental illness treatment 30-33. Compounds other than ∆ 9-THC and CBD may contribute to the therapeutic effects of each plant part in their traditional uses. Minor cannabinoids, such as cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), also have broad therapeu...

Links between Biomass of (Cremastra Appendiculata) Stems Cuticle and Elevation by Big Data of Long-Time Wild Investigation in Mei County

“…There is a long-time investigation of the correlations among biomass of stems cuticle of medicinal plant species and elevation from 2005 to 2019. Investigation of "big data" included that biomass of stems cuticle or other index of medicinal plant species along different elevation and environmental gradient by previous our researches [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16].…”

“…More and more research has assessed the correlation among biomass (average height, numbers, biodiversity, structure) of plant species and elevation from biomass (average height, numbers. biodiversity, structure) of the medicinal plant perspective (Table 1) [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11], for better future of human health (ecosystems) [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. However, medicinal species with typical history spanning over 1500 years, as well as areas ecological adaptation of a lot of fresh biomass weight of medical species are unknown, and cognitive ecological theory of the links between fresh biomass weight of medicinal species and elevation can be unknown along elevation and environments [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19].…”

Non-Cannabinoid Metabolites of Cannabis sativa with Therapeutic Potential

“…The Cannabis plant produces an estimated 545 [2] chemical compounds of different biogenetic classes [3]. The main biogenetic classes are shown table 1 below.…”

“…Primary metabolites provide nutritional value. Secondary metabolites include approximately 120 terpenoids (61 monoterpenes, 52 sesquiterpenoids, and 5 triterpenoids [2], over 26 flavonoids [2], lignans, stilbenes and derivatives, alkaloids, and 20 steroids [2] dihydrophenanthrenes, glycoproteins, and dibenzyls [5,6]. In addition to sharing analgesic, antimicrobial anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties, a majority also share anti-oxidant capabilities.…”

“…The biosynthesis of the non-cannabinoids in cannabis is driven by pyruvate/acetyl-CoA for the terpenes via the plastidial deoxyxylulose phosphate/methyl-erythritol phosphate (DOXP/MEP) and cytoplasmic MVA pathways [2], and p-coumaril-CoA via the phenylpropanoid pathway [2] for flavonoids [2]. The synthesis of cannabinoids is via the precursor molecule Olivetolic Acid (OLA) and the polyketide pathway, and another precursor molecule, Geranyl Diphosphate (GPP) and the plastidial deoxyxylulose phosphate/methyl-erythritol phosphate (DOXP/MEP) pathway [2]. These processes are simplified in figure 1 below.…”