Phytochemical Characterization of Cannabis sativa L. Roots from Northeastern Brazil

Abstract

This article describes the phytochemical study of Cannabis sativa roots from northeastern Brazil. The dried plant material was pulverized and subjected to exhaustive maceration with ethanol at room temperature, obtaining the crude ethanolic extract (Cs-EEBR). The volatile compounds were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), which allowed to identify 22 compounds by comparing the linear retention index (LRI), the similarity index (SI) and the fragmentation pattern of the constituents with the literature. By this technique the major compounds identified were: friedelan-3-one and β-sitosterol. In addition, two fractions were obtained from Cs-EEBR by classical column chromatography and preparative thin layer chromatography. These fractions were analyzed by NMR and IR and together with the mass spectrometry data allowed to identify the compounds: epifriedelanol, friedelan-3-one, β-sitosterol and stigmasterol. The study contributed to the phytochemical knowledge of Cannabis sativa, specifically the roots, as there are few reports on the chemical constituents of this part of the plant.

Effect of carbon source and elicitors on biomass production and accumulation of friedelin and epifriedelanol in hairy roots of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.)

“…The phytotherapeutic potential and health effects of C. sativa have been widely investigated, particularly for anti-in ammatory, pain management, anticancer, antioxidant, neuroprotective, gastrointestinal disorders, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and lowering blood pressure activities (Kumar et al 2021). These therapeutic properties of C. sativa depend substantially on the respective different chemical compositions of the plant parts, such as cannabinoids, alkaloids, terpenes, avonoids, lignans, and steroids (Kumar et al 2021;Almeida Neto et al 2023;Huang et al 2023). More than 545 metabolites have been isolated or characterized from this plant, with more than 104 different cannabinoids identi ed (Almeida ).…”