Phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of Cannabis sativa fruit (Cannabis Fructus)
Highlights
•Cannabis Fructus is the dried and ripe fruit of Cannabis sativa L, it has a long history of medicinal and edible use.
•Compounds in Cannabis Fructus include phenylpropanoids, steroids and terpenoids, cannabinoids, fatty acids and others.
•Cannabis Fructus and its active ingredients have numerous physiological activities.
•Cannabis Fructus can be used as the main raw material in the development of food, medicine, cosmetics, healthcare products.
Abstract
Cannabis sativa fruit (Cannabis Fructus) refers to the dried and ripe fruit of Cannabis sativa L. It is widely distributed in the northeast, North, and South China. It has medicinal, ecological, and economic values. This study aimed to review the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Cannabis Fructus, providing a reference for further exploration of Cannabis Fructus. Comprehensive information on Cannabis Fructus was collected via electronic searches (e.g., Google Scholar, PubMed, Sci Finder, and Web of Science) and from books on phytochemistry. Cannabis Fructus contains various compounds such as phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, steroids and terpenoids, cannabinoids, fatty acids, alkaloids, phenanthrenes, proteins, and polysaccharides. Its active ingredients exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-aging, anti-fatigue, anti-tumor, anti-constipation, neuroprotective, lipoid-regulating, hepatoprotective, and immunomodulatory properties.
Introduction
Cannabis sativa fruit (Cannabis Fructus) is the dried and mature fruit of Cannabis sativa L. belonging to the mulberry family. It is approved by the Chinese Ministry of Health for use as both medicine and food. It is currently cultivated in China on about 14,342 ha, with an annual output of 39,000 tons, of which more than 70 % is grown in Heilongjiang. Cannabis Fructus oil is known as longevity oil in Bama, the world’s fifth-longest-living town. Hemp oil, hemp paste, hemp tea, and other foods can be prepared from Cannabis Fructus. The long-term intake of Cannabis Fructus is considered key to the longevity of Bama people. Traditional Chinese medicine regards Cannabis Fructus as not only nutritious, but also beneficial for moistening and smoothing the bowels. It is used to treat blood deficiency and constipation, intestinal dryness and constipation, as well as to lower blood fat, blood sugar, and blood pressure. It is suitable for treating constipation caused by blood and fluid deficiency in elderly people and in women after childbirth [1]. Cannabis Fructus mainly contains fatty acids and their esters, phenylpropionamides, flavonoids and their glycosides, cannabinoids, alkaloids, steroids and terpenoids, proteins and enzymes [2].Contemporary pharmacological research has demonstrated that fatty acids and phenylpropanoids, the main components of Cannabis Fructus, have the anti-oxidant [3], anti-inflammatory [4], lipoid-regulating and hepatoprotective [5], anti-aging, anti-fatigue, neuroprotective and immunomodulatory properties [6]. In addition, other components of Cannabis Fructus such as flavonoids, cannabinoids, and proteins, also exhibit numerous biological activities, hence playing a crucial role in treating central nervous system [2] and cardiovascular diseases [3].
This study systematically reviewed the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Cannabis Fructus.
Section snippets:
Historical and botanical characteristics of Cannabis Fructus
Cannabis Fructus, a typical homologous crop used for both medicinal and dietary purposes, has a history in China of over 3000 years [7]. Cannabis Fructus, is also known as hemp kernel, hemp seed, Huo Mazi, and so forth. Cannabis Fructus fruit is oval with a smooth surface. The leaves are large and have fine lines. The flowers are small and polygonal. The fruit is small, and dark brown with a hard shell. The medicinal use of Cannabis Fructus was first reported in Shennong’s Herbal Classic. It…
Research progress on chemical constituents of Cannabis Fructus
A total of 179 compounds were isolated and identified from Cannabis Fructus, including phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, cannabinoids, fatty acids, alkaloids, phenanthrenes, proteins and polysaccharides, and other substances. The details of these compounds are provided in Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, Table 4, Table 5, Table 6, Table 7. The chemical structures are depicted in Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6, Fig. 7….
Pharmacological activities of Cannabis Fructus
Traditional Chinese medicine has extensively explored the medicinal value of Cannabis Fructus. The application of Cannabis Fructus is recorded in Shennong Materia Medica Classic [40], which claims that Cannabis Fructus can benefit the spleen, tonify deficiency, moisten the intestines, relax the bowels, nourish yin, replenish blood, tonify the middle energizer, invigorate qi, and promote blood circulation to relieve stranguria. Modern research shows that Cannabis Fructus has numerous…
Conclusions and future perspectives
This study reviewed the latest advancements in the history, botanical characteristics, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of Cannabis Fructus. For thousands of years, Cannabis Fructus has been used as a traditional food source and a key nutrition component in China. It is also used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat constipation and cardiovascular diseases, and to modulate the immune system. Phytochemical and pharmacological studies have confirmed many modern uses of this plant. A total of…”
Read more at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2024.106214