Cannabinoids Characterization and the Anti-cancer Activity of Cannabis sativa Stem Extracts against Colorectal Cancer Cell

Abstract

Cannabis sativa is a plant with a growing interests in research, and this is because of it therapeutic value associated with its active constituents such as cannabinoids and the terpenes. In this study, we characterized some isolated cannabinoids from the stems of cannabis plant using a JEOL Delta GX 400 MHz FT nuclear magnetic resonance instrument, and also evaluate the anti-cancer activity of the extracts against colorectal cancer cell. The cell viability was assessed using AlamarBlue and readings were recorded in term of fluorescence values using a microplate reader. Two cannabinoids were isolated (cannabinol and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) from the stems. HCT 116 cancerous cell was used to test the treatment with various concentrations of the extracts (ethanol and hexane) for 24 hours, and the % viability ranges from 3.8% (higher concentration of 600 µg/mL) to 104.30 % (lower concentration of 2.5 µg/mL) for both extracts. The LC₅₀ values of ethanol and hexane extracts were found to be 52.30 µg/mL and 51.89 µg/mL for HCT116 cell. Treatments was also carried out on a non-cancerous cell (MCF10A cell), and the % viability for both extracts (ethanol and hexane) ranges from 1.98 – 113.40 %. The LC₅₀ values of ethanol and hexane extracts are 52.40 µg/mL and 50.70 µg/mL for MCF10A cell. Findings from this study showed that Cannabis sativa stems contains cannabinoids, and is a promising anti-cancer agent.