Work

Influence of green aqueous extraction techniques on selected phytochemical markers, biological screening responses, and acute oral toxicity of Cannabis sativa L. extracts

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Cannabis sativa L. is an industrial and medicinal plant recognized as a source of bioactive metabolites with potential pharmaceutical applications. This study compared four water-based extraction protocols—infusion, Soxhlet extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE)—applied to extracts obtained from female cultivated C. sativa L. plants. Infusion yielded the highest apparent total phenolic, flavonoid, and flavonol contents (72.38 ± 1.01 mg GAE g −1 , 15.05 ± 0.07 mg QE g −1 , and 16.69 ± 0.82 mg QE g −1 , respectively), whereas UAE showed higher chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b contents. FTIR and 1 H/ 13 C NMR revealed comparative fingerprints, while targeted LC-MS/MS quantified selected phenolic compounds and cannabinoids, with UAE showing higher cannflavin B and Δ9-THC concentrations and infusion showing the highest measured isorhamnetin, CBDA, and total CBD concentrations within the targeted panel. Radical-scavenging responses differed between assays: infusion showed the lowest ABTS IC 50 value (0.72 ± 0.003 mg mL −1 ), whereas UAE showed the lowest DPPH IC 50 value (0.20 ± 0.01 mg mL −1 ). All extracts inhibited Lepidium sativum root elongation, indicating preliminary phytotoxic activity. No acute lethality or treatment-related clinical signs were observed in Swiss albino mice at the tested limit dose of 2000 mg kg −1 ; however, extract-dependent biochemical and hematological changes were detected. Under the tested, non-normalized operating conditions, the extraction protocols produced distinct responses across colorimetric indices, selected LC-MS/MS analytes, and preliminary biological screening assays. Further standardized chemical characterization and extended toxicological evaluation are required.

Source: Industrial Crops and Products

DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2026.124760