Wonder or evil?: Multifaceted health hazards and health benefits of Cannabis sativa and its phytochemicals

Abstract

Cannabis sativa , widely known as ‘Marijuana’ poses a dilemma for being a blend of both good and bad medicinal effects. The historical use of Cannabis for both medicinal and recreational purposes suggests it to be a friendly plant. However, whether the misuse of Cannabis and the cannabinoids derived from it can hamper normal body physiology is a focus of ongoing research. On the one hand, there is enough evidence to suggest that misuse of marijuana can cause deleterious effects on various organs like the lungs, immune system, cardiovascular system, etc. and also influence fertility and cause teratogenic effects. However, on the other hand, marijuana has been found to offer a magical cure for anorexia, chronic pain, muscle spasticity, nausea, and disturbed sleep. Indeed, most recently, the United Nations has given its verdict in favour of Cannabis declaring it as a non-dangerous narcotic. This review provides insights into the various health effects of Cannabis and its specialized metabolites and indicates how wise steps can be taken to promote good use and prevent misuse of the metabolites derived from this plant.

Phytotherapy for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

“…ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental behavioral disorders characterized by inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness ( Datta et al, 2021 ). It is found amongst 1 out of 20 children ( Pellow et al, 2011 ).…”

“…Diet, elimination diets, nutritional supplements (for example, supplementation with essential fatty acids), homeopathy, yoga, exercise, massage, and botanicals have been tested against ADHD ( Pellow et al, 2011 ). Both single and multi-ingredient formulas have been reported effective in several studies, and combination therapies were found to be beneficial against cognitive and behavioral problems ( Rucklidge et al, 2009 ; Banerjee et al, 2021 ; Datta et al, 2021 ; Halder et al, 2021 ; Tandon et al, 2021 ). However, the safety and efficacy of CAM treatments, especially for children, need to be further investigated.…”

Hemp and Its Derivatives as a Universal Industrial Raw Material (with Particular Emphasis on the Polymer Industry)—A Review

“…Strong healing properties are indicated even among drug-resistant bacteria, such as the Staphylococcus aureus strain. Hemp also contains various polyphenols with antioxidant properties, coloring compounds and polysaccharides [ 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 ].…”

Dioscin: A review on pharmacological properties and therapeutic values

“…Plants produce various secondary metabolites and phytochemicals usually as a response to factors such as microbial invasion 170,171 . Phytochemicals are a group of such secondary metabolites that are naturally synthesized by plants and can be extracted and purified for medical use 172–177 . Natural compounds have beneficial properties like low cytotoxicity and epidemiological studies indicate the numerous health benefits they offer.…”

“…170,171 Phytochemicals are a group of such secondary metabolites that are naturally synthesized by plants and can be extracted and purified for medical use. [172][173][174][175][176][177] Natural compounds have beneficial properties like low cytotoxicity and epidemiological studies indicate the numerous health benefits they offer. Therefore, a number of clinical studies have been performed with plant-derived natural products.…”