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Cited by 19Cannabis and Cannabinoid ResearchMedicinal Plant ResearchPhytochemistry and Biological Activities

Rooted in therapeutics: comprehensive analyses of Cannabis sativa root extracts reveals potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and bactericidal properties

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Gagné, Valérie, Merindol, Natacha, Boucher, Raphaël, Boucher, Nathalie, Desgagné-Penix, Isabel·2024·Frontiers in Pharmacology
DOI 10.3389/fphar.2024.1465136PMC PMC11440120
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Abstract

Following the legalization of recreational Cannabis in Canada in 2018, the associated waste, including Cannabis roots, has significantly increased. Cannabis roots, comprising 30%–50% of the total plant, are often discarded despite their historical use in Ayurvedic medicine for treating inflammatory and infectious disorders. This study evaluates the phytochemical and therapeutic properties of Cannabis root extracts from a high tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, low cannabidiolic acid cultivar (variety Alien Gorilla Glue). We performed ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) to identify the chemical components of the Cannabis roots. Extracts using water, ethanol and acid-base solvents were tested for antioxidant activity through free radical scavenging, metal chelation, and lipoperoxidation inhibition assays. Mitochondrial membrane protection was assessed using flow cytometry with the MitoPerOx probe in THP-1 monocytic leukemia cells. Anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated by measuring interleukin-6 levels in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated THP-1 cells. Bactericidal/fungicidal efficacy against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans was determined using the p-iodonitrophenyltetrazolium assay. Additionally, we investigated the anticholinesterase activity of Cannabis root extracts, given the potential role of plant alkaloids in inhibiting cholinesterase, an enzyme targeted in Alzheimer’s disease treatments. UPLC-QTOF-MS analysis suggested the presence of several phenolic compounds, cannabinoids, terpenoids, amino acids, and nitrogen-containing compounds. Our results indicated significant antioxidant, bactericidal, and anticholinesterase properties of Cannabis root extracts from both soil and hydroponic cultivation. Extracts showed strong antioxidant activity across multiple assays, protected mitochondrial membrane in THP-1 cells, and exhibited anti-inflammatory and bactericidal/fungicidal efficacy. Notably, soil-cultivated roots displayed superior anti-inflammatory effects. These findings demonstrate the remarkable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial activities of Cannabis roots, supporting their traditional uses and challenging their perception as mere waste. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of Cannabis roots extracts and suggests avenues for further research and application.

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  • Emerging research has identified nitrogen-containing metabolites in Cannabis as having neuroprotective, antitumor, and analgesic effects.

    “emerging research has identified notable bioactive properties worthy of therapeutic consideration such as neuroprotective, antitumor, and analgesic effects, suggesting they warrant further investigation [12,13,14].”

    From Exploring the Lesser-Known Bioactive Natural Products of Plant Species of the Genus Cannabis L.: Alkaloids, Phenolic Compounds, and Their Therapeutic Potential (2025) · cites this paper as [14]

    The Results (§3.1 and §3.5) identify nitrogen-containing compounds in Cannabis roots and show cholinesterase inhibition by root extracts. The Discussion (§5) suggests that alkaloids may contribute to this potentially neuroprotective effect, but does not establish the effect for the individual metabolites. It describes analgesia as a traditional use of roots, not a demonstrated effect of those metabolites, and the searched passages provide no support for an antitumor effect. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Among Cannabis hydroxycinnamic acid amides are N-trans-coumaroyl-tyramine in roots, and N-trans-feruloyltyramine and N-trans-caffeoyltyramine in flowers, seeds, and roots.

    “Among these are the hydroxycinnamic acid amides (HCAAs) N-trans-coumaroyl-tyramine in roots, and N-trans-feruloyltyramine and N-trans-caffeoyltyramine in flowers, seeds, and roots.”

    From Exploring the Lesser-Known Bioactive Natural Products of Plant Species of the Genus Cannabis L.: Alkaloids, Phenolic Compounds, and Their Therapeutic Potential (2025) · cites this paper as [14]

    Table 2 in Results §3.1 (page unavailable) lists N-feruloyltyramine as a putative constituent of Cannabis root extracts. It does not specify the trans form or report N-coumaroyltyramine or N-caffeoyltyramine, and the paper’s chemical analysis addresses roots rather than establishing their presence in flowers and seeds. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Fifteen phenolic amides and lignanamides have been identified in Cannabis.

    “Additionally, fifteen phenolic amides and lignanamides have been identified in Cannabis (Figure 1 and Figure 2).”

    From Exploring the Lesser-Known Bioactive Natural Products of Plant Species of the Genus Cannabis L.: Alkaloids, Phenolic Compounds, and Their Therapeutic Potential (2025) · cites this paper as [14]

    Table 2 in Results §3.1 lists several putatively identified cannabisins in Cannabis root extracts, and the Discussion identifies cannabisins F, D, and G as phenolic amides. Our copy does not state that fifteen phenolic amides and lignanamides have been identified in Cannabis, so the count and combined category are not supported. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Other Cannabis metabolites include cannabisins A to G, cannabisins M, N and O, 3,3′-demethylheliotropamide, and grossamide, with cannabisins B and G present in roots.

    “Other metabolites include cannabisins A to G, as well as cannabisins M, N and O, 3,3′-demethylheliotropamide, and grossamide, with cannabisins B and G present in the roots [12,14,29,30,41].”

    From Exploring the Lesser-Known Bioactive Natural Products of Plant Species of the Genus Cannabis L.: Alkaloids, Phenolic Compounds, and Their Therapeutic Potential (2025) · cites this paper as [14]

    Results §3.1 and Table 2 list cannabisins D, E, F and G as putative identities in Cannabis root extracts, supporting the presence of G in roots and part of the A–G list. They do not identify cannabisin B in roots or address cannabisins A, C, M, N and O, 3,3′-demethylheliotropamide, or grossamide. No page number is available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Gagné, V., Merindol, N., Boucher, R., Boucher, N., & Desgagné-Penix, I.
Affiliations
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (CA)
ORCID
Boucher, Nathalie
Venue
Frontiers in Pharmacology
Publisher
Frontiers Media SA
Published
2024-09-16
Volume
15
Pages
1465136-1465136
ISSN
1663-9812 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3389/fphar.2024.1465136
PMC
PMC11440120
OpenAlex
W4402798176
Cited by
19
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 7
FWCI
5.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Frontiers in Pharmacology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Le dépôt institutionnel (Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Canada Research Chairs
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Medicinal Plant Research
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Phytochemistry and Biological Activities
Keywords
Cannabis sativa, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, cannabidiolic acid, antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory activity, bactericidal activity, fungicidal activity, anticholinesterase activity, THP-1 cells, interleukin-6, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, phenolic compounds, terpenoids, plant alkaloids, tillage, hydroponics, Ayurveda

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