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Cannabis sativa is widely used for medical purposes and has anti-inflammatory activity. This study intended to examine the anti-inflammatory activity of cannabis on immune response markers associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) inflammation. An extract fraction from C. sativa Arbel strain (FCBD) substantially reduced (dose dependently) interleukin (IL)-6 and -8 levels in an alveolar epithelial (A549) cell line. FCBD contained cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG) and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), and multiple terpenes. Treatments with FCBD and a FCBD formulation using phytocannabinoid standards (FCBD:std) reduced IL-6, IL-8, C–C Motif Chemokine Ligands (CCLs) 2 and 7, and angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression in the A549 cell line. Treatment with FCBD induced macrophage (differentiated KG1 cell line) polarization and phagocytosis in vitro, and increased CD36 and type II receptor for the Fc region of IgG (FcγRII) expression. FCBD treatment also substantially increased IL-6 and IL-8 expression in macrophages. FCBD:std, while maintaining anti-inflammatory activity in alveolar epithelial cells, led to reduced phagocytosis and pro-inflammatory IL secretion in macrophages in comparison to FCBD. The phytocannabinoid formulation may show superior activity versus the cannabis-derived fraction for reduction of lung inflammation, yet there is a need of caution proposing cannabis as treatment for COVID-19.

Cannabis sativa produces hundreds of phytocannabinoids and terpenes. Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), characterized by patches, plaques and tumors. Sezary is a leukemic stage of CTCL presenting with erythroderma and the presence of neoplastic Sezary T-cells in peripheral blood. This study aimed to identify active compounds from whole cannabis extracts and their synergistic mixtures, and to assess respective cytotoxic activity against CTCL cells. Ethanol extracts of C. sativa were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Cytotoxic activity was determined using the XTT assay on My-La and HuT-78 cell lines as well as peripheral blood lymphocytes from Sezary patients (SPBL). Annexin V assay and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) were used to determine apoptosis and cell cycle. RNA sequencing and quantitative PCR were used to determine gene expression. Active cannabis compounds presenting high cytotoxic activity on My-La and HuT-78 cell lines were identified in crude extract fractions designated S4 and S5, and their synergistic mixture was specified. This mixture induced cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis; a relatively selective apoptosis was also recorded on the malignant CD4+CD26- SPBL cells. Significant cytotoxic activity of the corresponding mixture of pure phytocannabinoids further verified genuine interaction between S4 and S5. The gene expression profile was distinct in My-La and HuT-78 cells treated with the S4 and S5 synergistic mixture. We suggest that specifying formulations of synergistic active cannabis compounds and unraveling their modes of action may lead to new cannabis-based therapies.

In developing countries, a marketable surplus of agriculture is the key factor of economic development. In order to gain highest quality and optimum productivity, the farmers have to enrich the soil with extra nutrient additives like natural and synthetic fertilizers to maintain its fertility. Among the modern agricultural systems, chemical fertilizers play a pivotal role in maintaining the delicate balance between the nutrients in the soil and offering a vigorous boost to plant growth. Over the past few decades, even though the industrial revolution, followed by the green revolution, addressed food security, they at the same time adversely increased the consumption of chemical fertilizers. However, in this scenario, the enhanced unconscious fertilization favored soil fertility, but its undesirable effects caused irreversible environmental pollution. The overdosage of chemical fertilizers without taking any remedial measures of soil testing has contaminated almost every part of our ecosystem leading to the most devastating effects of soil, water, land, and air pollution. This book chapter provides a detailed sketch on the chemistry and toxicity impacts of chemical fertilizers on human health and ecosystem.

Cannabis sativa contains more than 500 constituents, yet the anticancer properties of the vast majority of cannabis compounds remains unknown. We aimed to identify cannabis compounds and their combinations presenting cytotoxicity against bladder urothelial carcinoma (UC), the most common urinary system cancer. An XTT assay was used to determine cytotoxic activity of C. sativa extracts on T24 and HBT-9 cell lines. Extract chemical content was identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) was used to determine apoptosis and cell cycle, using stained F-actin and nuclei. Scratch and transwell assays were used to determine cell migration and invasion, respectively. Gene expression was determined by quantitative Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The most active decarboxylated extract fraction (F7) of high-cannabidiol (CBD) C. sativa was found to contain cannabichromene (CBC) and &Delta, 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Synergistic interaction was demonstrated between CBC + THC whereas cannabinoid receptor (CB) type 1 and type 2 inverse agonists reduced cytotoxic activity. Treatments with CBC + THC or CBD led to cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis. CBC + THC or CBD treatments inhibited cell migration and affected F-actin integrity. Identification of active plant ingredients (API) from cannabis that induce apoptosis and affect cell migration in UC cell lines forms a basis for pre-clinical trials for UC treatment.

Cannabis sativa is widely used for medical purposes and has anti-inflammatory activity. The purpose of this study was to examine the anti-inflammatory activity of cannabis on markers of immune responses associated with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) inflammation. An extract fraction from C. sativa Arbel strain (FCBD) substantially reduced dose dependently interleukin (IL) 6 and 8 levels in an alveolar epithelial (A549) cell line. FCBD contained cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG) and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), and multiple terpenes. Treatments with FCBD and phytocannabinoid standards that compose FCBD (FCBD:std) reduced IL-6, IL-8, C-C Motif Chemokine Ligands (CCLs) 2 and 7, and angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression in the A549 cell line. Treatment with FCBD induced macrophages (differentiated KG1 cell line) polarization and phagocytosis in vitro, and increased CD36 and type II receptor for the Fc region of IgG (FcγRII) expression. FCBD treatment also substantially increased IL-6 and IL-8 expression in macrophages. FCBD:std, while maintaining the anti-inflammatory activity in alveolar epithelial cells, led to reduced phagocytosis and pro-inflammatory IL secretion in macrophages in comparison to FCBD. The phytocannabinoid mixture may show superior activity versus cannabis fraction for reduction of lung inflammation, yet there is a need of caution in proposing cannabis as treatment for COVID-19.

Background: The Mediterranean basin is one of the richest biodiversity areas in the world, and the use of medicinal plants for treating cancer in this area has been documented for generations in different cultures. Objective: To present and discuss the findings related to medicinal plants with confirmed data on active compounds and/or clear mode of action. Methods: We undertook a structured search of bibliography of peer-reviewed research literature using key words and a focused review question. Papers with sufficient quality were reviewed, their findings presented and integrated into a coherent, state of the art document on wild plants of the Middle East with anti-cancer activity. Results: 121 papers were included in the review, among them 10 define herbal medicine, 3 describe the status of cancer worldwide, 18 discuss biodiversity, chemodiversity, ethnopharmacological survey and conservation of medicinal plants, 12 describe well known natural products from plants used to treat cancer and 78 papers describe specific compounds and mode of action in different wild plants from the middle east, traditionally used to treat cancer. Conclusions: Confirmed data on active compounds and/or clear mode of action exist for several wild plants traditionally used in herbal medicine to treat cancer. Yet, medicinal plants were mainly gathered from the wild, resulting in some of the commonly used herbs becoming endangered species. Also, in many cases, the activity and biochemical profile of plants harvested over different time spans and ecosystems may vary. Rational cultivation may ensure optimized yield with a uniform high quality of products.

In order to understand the vegetative and reproductive phenological behaviour of Syzygium caryophyllatum, the knowledge of the factor influencing leaf flushing, maturation, leaf fall, flowering and fruiting of this tree species is required. The authors used field observations collected over 3 years (2012–2015) at Neeliyarkottam sacred grove, Kannur district, Western Ghats of Kerala, India, to characterize the relationship between phenological pattern and biotic and abiotic (climatic) factors. The relationship between phenological pattern of the selected species and abiotic variables such as precipitation and temperature exhibited significant variation among the species. Flowering begins from second week of March to till May with a peak in April followed by the fruiting. Hand pollination tests indicated that most of the fruits were developed through xenogamous pollination. The breeding test results indicated S. caryophyllatum is self-incompatible and out-crossing is fertile. The foraging activities of some common pollinators on S. caryophyllatum flowers were also studied. The main flower visitors and foragers include honey bees, different varieties of butterflies, wasps, carpenter bees, small flies, bugs and ants. The flowering and fruiting exclusively occur in the dry season and are followed by germination and establishment of seedlings during the subsequent rainy season. The authors conclude that the investigations on the reproductive phenology, floral biology, breeding systems and pollinator visitation are important due to population survival of the species and its evolutionary success.

Cannabis sativa produces hundreds of phytocannabinoids and terpenes. Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), characterized by patches, plaques and tumors. Sézary is a leukemic stage of CTCL presenting with erythroderma and the presence of neoplastic Sézary T-cells in peripheral blood. This study aimed to identify active compounds from whole cannabis extracts and their synergistic mixtures, and to assess respective cytotoxic activity against CTCL cells. Ethanol extracts of C. sativa were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Cytotoxic activity was determined using the XTT assay on My-La and HuT-78 cell lines as well as peripheral blood lymphocytes from Sézary patients (SPBL). Annexin V assay and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) were used to determine apoptosis and cell cycle. RNA sequencing and quantitative PCR were used to determine gene expression. Active cannabis compounds presenting high cytotoxic activity on My-La and HuT-78 cell lines were identified in crude extract fractions designated S4 and S5, and their synergistic mixture was specified. This mixture induced cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis; a relatively selective apoptosis was also recorded on the malignant CD4+CD26- SPBL cells. Significant cytotoxic activity of the corresponding mixture of pure phytocannabinoids further verified genuine interaction between S4 and S5. The gene expression profile was distinct in My-La and HuT-78 cells treated with the S4 and S5 synergistic mixture. We suggest that specifying formulations of synergistic active cannabis compounds and unraveling their modes of action may lead to new cannabis-based therapies.

The chemical composition of essential oil in the leaves of Syzygium caryophyllatum collected during summer and winter seasons were analysed by GC-MS. The essential oil yield in summer and winter seasons were 0.2 % and 0.35 % respectively. Fifty five compounds representing 99.98 % of the oil were identified in the winter season and 129 compounds in summer season with 100 % of the leaves oil. In winter essential oil, α-cadinol (18.3 %), myristicin (12.02 %), δ-cadinene (8.4 %) and τ-muurolol (6.65 %) were the most prominent compounds followed by β-caryophyllene (5.33 %), α-muurolol (5.11 %), β-cis-ocimene (2.53 %), β-elemen (2.52 %) and calarene epoxide (2.31 %), whereas in summer essential oil, the major chemical compounds were caryophyllene oxide (10.72 %), α-pinene (10.55 %), 4,8,13-duvatrene-1,3-diol (10.44 %) and cadin-4-en-10-ol (8.27 %) followed by γ-gurjunenepoxide-(1) (5.93 %), α-cadinol (4.6 %), 3,5,9-trimethyl-deca-2,4,8-trien-1-ol (4.11 %), β-pinene (2.77 %) and cis-lanceol (2.66 %). The...

Mixtures of different Cannabis sativa phytocannabinoids are more active biologically than single phytocannabinoids. However, cannabis terpenoids as potential instigators of phytocannabinoid activity have not yet been explored in detail. Terpenoid groups were statistically co-related to certain cannabis strains rich in &Delta, 9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) or cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), and their ability to enhance the activity of decarboxylase phytocannabinoids (i.e., THC or CBD) was determined. Analytical HPLC and GC/MS were used to identify and quantify the secondary metabolites in 17 strains of C. sativa, and correlations between cannabinoids and terpenoids in each strain were determined. Column separation was used to separate and collect the compounds, and cell viability assay was used to assess biological activity. We found that in &ldquo, high THC&rdquo, or &ldquo, high CBD&rdquo, strains, phytocannabinoids are produced alongside certain sets of terpenoids. Only co-related terpenoids enhanced the cytotoxic activity of phytocannabinoids on MDA-MB-231 and HCT-116 cell lines. This was found to be most effective in natural ratios found in extracts of cannabis inflorescence. The correlation in a particular strain between THCA or CBDA and a certain set of terpenoids, and the partial specificity in interaction may have influenced the cultivation of cannabis and may have implications for therapeutic treatments.