CANNABIS SATIVA: ETHNOBOTANY AND PHYTOCHEMISTRY

This literature review paper is developed as a part of the awareness and to gather scientific information about the medicinal plant, Cannabis sativa. Several researches have shown the potential medicinal activity of Cannabis and its chemical compounds. Cannabis sativa L. is one of the medicinal plant known for fibre, medicinal, psychoactive agents and oil. There are two names of Cannabis sativa one is Medical cannabis sativa (marijuana type), and another one is known Industrial Cannabis sativa (fiber type).. There is still a huge prejudice in society in relation to Medical cannabis sativa (marijuana type) due to its recreational use. In India, Cannabis sativa is also commonly known as Indian hemp, marijuana, Bhang, Ganja, and Charas, which are banned in India as an illicit drug. Sales and cultivation of Medical cannabis (marijuana type) are illegal in India. However, this scenario is changing, and the social resistance is decreasing for the medicinal use of Cannabis. The plant derivatives were identified as psychoactive compound, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC or THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD), as well as, the endocannabinoid system, cannabinoid receptors type 1 and type 2 (CB1 and CB2, respectively). The plant has gained a lot of popularity in the last few decades for not only being an illicit drug but for its medicinal values from ancient times and a potential source for modern drugs to treat several targets for human wellness. Herein, our aim is to perform a literature overview about the plant, ethnobotany, and its chemical compounds of therapeutic interest.