:
18 March 2021

Cannabis hemp

Cannabis hemp is a plant known worldwide for thousands of years, used in agriculture, textile, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food industries. Due to more and more reports from the medical world, it is also becoming a source of broad-spectrum medicines.

Hemp's therapeutic properties have been known since ancient times, with references found both in the Old Testament and in the oldest pharmacopoeia from China (Pen Ts'ao Chin) dating back to 2700 BC. Evidence for the use of hemp on Polish territory is provided by Syreniusz, a 17th-century physician, botanist and professor at the Kraków Academy. Hemp extract has had an official place in American pharmacopoeia since 1851. It was used as a specific for the treatment of pain, convulsions, constipation, malaria, as a sleeping aid, sedative, anaesthetic, anti-inflammatory and antiparasitic [1,2].

Within the cannabis species, we can distinguish subspecies: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, Cannabis Ruderalis differing in origin, morphology, as well as in the content of individual cannabinoids.[3] C. Sativa, native to Central Asia, is characterized by tall growth >1.5 m, with fewer branches and less dense inflorescences. It produces high cannabinoid counts, THC>CBD ratio and large amounts of terpenes. C. Indica, native to India, is a 1.5 m tall plant with dense leaves and inflorescences. The main cannabinoids are produced in similar proportions of THC=CBD. C. Ruderalis, native to Europe or Central Asia, is a plant with variable morphology, usually low in height. It has higher amounts of CBD than THC.

 

Różnice między sativa, indica, ruderalis

Fig.1. Morphological differences between subspecies.

 

This division, however, seems to be irrelevant to the process of crossing, hybridization, which has been going on for several decades and has resulted in the creation of variants (strains) with different chemical profiles and properties. It is, nowadays, estimated that there are between 1500 and 6500 varieties.[4]

Hemp produces numerous chemical compounds. These include phytocannabinoids, terpenes and phenolic compounds[5].

Fig.1 Morphological differences between subspecies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bibliografia

[1]Pokrywka, Małgorzata & Góralska, Joanna & Solnica, Bogdan. (2016). Kannabinoidy – nowy oręż do walki z nowotworami? Cannabinoids – a new weapon against cancer?. Postępy Higieny i Medycyny Doświadczalnej (Advances in Hygiene and Experimental Medicine). 70. 1309-1320.

[2]Motyka M., Marcinkowski J.T.: Używanie pochodnych konopi. Część II. Zastosowanie w medycynie vs. konsekwencje zdrowotne. Probl. Hig. Epidemiol., 2014; 95: 21 27

[3]McPartland, J.M. & Guy, G.W. Bot. Rev. (2017)83: 327. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12229-017-9187-0

[4]Baza danych zawarta w portalu https://www.leafly.com/

[5]Flores-Sanchez, I. J., and Verpoorte, R. (2008). Secondary metabolism in Cannabis. Phytochem. Rev. 7, 615–639. doi: 10.1007/s11101-008-9094-4