Moroccan Cannabis sativa L. seed chloroform extract: phytochemistry, acute toxicity, and metabolic-behavioral effects in mice
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Despite growing interest in the therapeutic use of Cannabis sativa L. following its legalization for medicinal purposes in 2021, the toxicity profile of its seeds remains largely underexplored in Morocco. This study aimed to characterize the phytochemical profile and acute oral toxicity of a chloroform seed extract (C/S) from Moroccan Cannabis sativa L. C/S extract (yield: 4.27 ± 0.13%) was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Acute toxicity testing was performed according to OECD Test Guideline 425: female Swiss mice (n = 5/group) received a single 2,000 mg kg⁻¹ oral dose or vehicle control, followed by 14 d monitoring of clinical signs, body weight (BW), organ weight, and serum biochemistry (ASAT/ALAT, creatinine, urea, and lipid profile). GC-MS analysis revealed 16 compounds, with octacosane (6.80%), 2-methyloctadecane (5.75%), and cannabidiol (5.32%) as the major components. No treatment-related mortality was observed (LD₅₀ > 2,000 mg kg⁻¹), and only transient signs of hypoactivity/tachycardia were noted, which resolved spontaneously within a few hours. BW gain (p = 0.154), liver/BW (p = 0.103), and kidney/BW (p = 0.406) ratios showed no significant differences. Total cholesterol was lower in the C/S group than in controls (0.82 ± 0.06 g L⁻¹ vs. 2.13 ± 0.38 g L⁻¹, p = 0.014), whereas LDL-C was higher in the C/S group (0.07 ± 0.00 g L⁻¹ vs. 0.03 ± 0.01 g L⁻¹, p = 0.002). The C/S extract demonstrated low acute toxicity under the tested conditions, supporting further safety-oriented pharmaceutical investigation of Moroccan Cannabis sativa L. seeds.
Source: Notulae Scientia Biologicae
DOI: 10.55779/nsb18212928
Institution: Mohammed V University
Language: English
Subfield: Pharmacology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7166558866