“This review focuses on antimicrobial packaging for food safety, critically examining the activity and efficacy of cannabinoids against commonly found microorganisms and exploring their antimicrobial mechanisms.
Specifically, the review considers cannabinoids derived from industrial hemp plants, which are characterized by low levels of psychoactive components. It also outlines viable strategies to control the sustained release of cannabinoids from the packaging, enabling extended storage and enhanced safety of food products.
Research demonstrates that cannabinoids are effective against both foodborne bacteria and fungi, with their antimicrobial action primarily attributed to microbial membrane instability.
Cannabinoids can be utilized to prepare effective antimicrobial films and edible coatings; however, the number of studies in this area remains limited.
The potential of cannabinoids to contribute to intelligent packaging systems is also discussed, with an emphasis on the regulatory aspects and challenges associated with incorporating cannabinoids into food packaging. Finally, the review identifies future research directions to address current limitations and advance hemp-based antimicrobial food packaging solutions.”
“Background and Objective: Amid the escalating challenge of antibiotic resistance, the exploration of new sources has become essential, with plants serving as a promising reservoir of bioactive compounds.
Cannabis sativa has attracted significant research interest for its antimicrobial properties and broad applications in medicine, industry and nutrition.
This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts from the stems and leaves of the Hang Kra Rog Phu Phan ST1 strain against twelve human pathogenic bacteria.
Materials and Methods: Stems and leaves from the Hang Kra Rog Phu Phan ST1 strain were subjected to ethanol extraction. The primary antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts from Tanao Si Kan Dang RD1 was assessed using the disc diffusion method, while the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were determined via the broth microdilution method. The inhibition zone diameter (mm) was analyzed using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) with the SAS software.
Results: The findings revealed that the ethanolic extract from the leaves of Hang Kra Rog Phu Phan ST1 produced the largest inhibition zone diameter of 10.00 mm against <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> TISTR 008. The MIC and MBC of the leaf extract showed the lowest values of 0.09 and 0.19 mg/mL, respectively, recorded against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> TISTR 1466.
Conclusion: This is the first report on the antibacterial activity of the ethanolic extracts from the leaves and stems of Hang Kra Rog Phu Phan ST1, which offers potential benefits for developing natural antibiotic drugs to combat infections caused by the tested pathogenic bacteria.”
“Antibiotic resistance in staphylococcal strains and its impact on public health and agriculture are global problems. The development of new anti-staphylococcal agents is an effective strategy for addressing the increasing incidence of bacterial resistance.
In this study, ethanolic extracts of Cannabis sativa L. made from plant parts harvested during the whole vegetation cycle under various nutritional treatments were assessed for in vitro anti-staphylococcal effects.
The results showed that all the cannabis extracts tested exhibited a certain degree of growth inhibition against bacterial strains of Staphylococcus aureus, including antibiotic-resistant and antibiotic-sensitive forms. The highest antibacterial activity of the extracts was observed from the 5th to the 13th week of plant growth across all the nutritional treatments tested, with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 32 to 64 µg/mL. Using HPLC, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) was identified as the most abundant cannabinoid in the ethanolic extracts. A homolog of THCA, tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid (THCVA), reduced bacterial growth by 74%.
These findings suggest that the cannabis extracts tested in this study can be used for the development of new anti-staphylococcal compounds with improved efficacy.”
“In summary, the present study demonstrated the antistaphylococcal activity of ethanolic extracts of C. sativa L. against both of the bacterial strains tested, MSSA and MRSA, across all the vegetation stages, especially from the 5th to the 13th week. The various nutritional treatments had no impact on the resulting antibacterial effect.”
“Background: Two major bacterial pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes, are becoming increasingly antibiotic-resistant. Despite the urgency, only a few new antibiotics have been approved to address these infections. Although cannabinoids have been noted for their antibacterial properties, a comprehensive review of their effects on these bacteria has been lacking.
Objective: This systematic review examines the antibacterial activity of cannabinoids against S. aureus, including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) strains, and S. pyogenes.
Methods: Databases, including CINAHL, Cochrane, Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and LILACS, were searched. Of 3510 records, 24 studies met the inclusion criteria, reporting on the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration of cannabinoids.
Results: Cannabidiol (CBD) emerged as the most effective cannabinoid, with MICs ranging from 0.65 to 32 mg/L against S. aureus, 0.5 to 4 mg/L for MRSA, and 1 to 2 mg/L for VRSA. Other cannabinoids, such as cannabichromene, cannabigerol (CBG), and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), also exhibited significant antistaphylococcal activity. CBD, CBG, and Δ9-THC also showed efficacy against S. pyogenes, with MICs between 0.6 and 50 mg/L. Synergistic effects were observed when CBD and essential oils from Cannabis sativa when combined with other antibacterial agents.
Conclusion: Cannabinoids’ antibacterial potency is closely linked to their structure-activity relationships, with features like the monoterpene region, aromatic alkyl side chain, and aromatic carboxylic groups enhancing efficacy, particularly in CBD and its cyclic forms. These results highlight the potential of cannabinoids in developing therapies for resistant strains, though further research is needed to confirm their clinical effectiveness.”
“In conclusion, cannabinoids such as CBD, CBG, and Δ9-THC offer significant promise as alternatives or adjuncts to traditional antibiotics, particularly for targeting S. aureus, MRSA, and S. pyogenes. Their favourable safety profile positions them as potential candidates for antibacterial therapies, though rigorous clinical trials, standardised testing, and long-term safety studies are crucial to fully unlock their potential in combating AMR.”
“The number of human infections with multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria is increasing worldwide and constitutes a serious threat to human health. Given the lack of novel antibiotic compounds worsening this dilemma, alternative antibiotic-independent treatment and prevention strategies of infectious diseases applying natural compounds appear highly appreciable.
Given the long-known health-beneficial and disease-alleviating properties of Cannabis, we performed a literature search summarizing current knowledge regarding the antibacterial effects of extracts from different parts of the Cannabis sativa plant and of defined Cannabis-derived molecules and their potential mode of action.
The included studies revealed that various extracts and essential oils of C. sativa as well as major cannabinoids exerted potent activities against a broad spectrum of Gram-positive bacteria and against some Gram-negative bacterial species including MDR strains. Particularly the disruption of the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane by some cannabinoids resulted in potent antibacterial effects against Gram-positive bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, defined cannabinoids inhibited the formation of and eradicated existing bacterial biofilms.
In conclusion, given their antibacterial properties distinct Cannabis-derived molecules expand the repertoire of antibiotics-independent treatment options in the combat of bacterial infectious diseases which should be further addressed in future studies including clinical trials.”
“Collectively, results from the here reviewed studies open future perspectives for cannabis-derived molecules as alternative antibiotic-independent treatment and prevention strategies in the combat of bacterial infectious diseases which should be further addressed in future studies including clinical trials.”
“Abnormal cannabinoids (including comp 3) are a class of synthetic lipid compounds with non-psychoactive properties and regioisomer configurations, but distinct from traditional cannabinoids since they do not interact with the established CB1 and CB2 receptors. Previous research showed the cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory potentials of comp 3 and more recently its antimicrobial effect on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Given the escalating challenges posed by Candida infections and the rise of antifungal drug resistance, the exploration of novel therapeutic avenues is crucial. This study aimed to assess the anti-Candida properties of newly synthesized AbnCBD derivatives. AbnCBD derivatives were synthesized by acid catalysis-induced coupling and further derivatized. We evaluated the potential of the AbnCBD derivatives to inhibit the growth stages of various Candida species.
By in vitro colorimetric assays and in vivo mice experiments, we have shown that AbnCBD derivatives induce differential inhibition of Candida growth. The AbnCBD derivatives, especially comp 3, comp 10, and comp 9 significantly reduced the growth of C. albicans, including FLC-resistant strains, and of C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis but not of C auris compared to their controls (FLC and 0.5% DMSO). Comp 3 also disrupted C. albicans biofilm formation and eradicated mature biofilms. Notably, other derivatives of AbnCBD disrupted the biofilm formation and maturation of C. albicans but did not affect yeast growth. In a murine model of VVC, comp 3 demonstrated significant fungal clearance and reduced C. albicans burden compared to vehicle and FLC controls.
These findings highlight the potential of AbnCBDs as promising antifungal agents against Candida infections.”
“Following the legalization of recreational Cannabis in Canada in 2018, the associated waste, including Cannabis roots, has significantly increased. Cannabis roots, comprising 30%-50% of the total plant, are often discarded despite their historical use in Ayurvedic medicine for treating inflammatory and infectious disorders.
This study evaluates the phytochemical and therapeutic properties of Cannabis root extracts from a high tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, low cannabidiolic acid cultivar (variety Alien Gorilla Glue).
We performed ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) to identify the chemical components of the Cannabis roots. Extracts using water, ethanol and acid-base solvents were tested for antioxidant activity through free radical scavenging, metal chelation, and lipoperoxidation inhibition assays. Mitochondrial membrane protection was assessed using flow cytometry with the MitoPerOx probe in THP-1 monocytic leukemia cells. Anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated by measuring interleukin-6 levels in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated THP-1 cells. Bactericidal/fungicidal efficacy against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans was determined using the p-iodonitrophenyltetrazolium assay. Additionally, we investigated the anticholinesterase activity of Cannabis root extracts, given the potential role of plant alkaloids in inhibiting cholinesterase, an enzyme targeted in Alzheimer’s disease treatments. UPLC-QTOF-MS analysis suggested the presence of several phenolic compounds, cannabinoids, terpenoids, amino acids, and nitrogen-containing compounds.
Our results indicated significant antioxidant, bactericidal, and anticholinesterase properties of Cannabis root extracts from both soil and hydroponic cultivation.
Extracts showed strong antioxidant activity across multiple assays, protected mitochondrial membrane in THP-1 cells, and exhibited anti-inflammatory and bactericidal/fungicidal efficacy. Notably, soil-cultivated roots displayed superior anti-inflammatory effects.
These findings demonstrate the remarkable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial activities of Cannabis roots, supporting their traditional uses and challenging their perception as mere waste. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of Cannabis roots extracts and suggests avenues for further research and application.”
“In conclusion, this study sheds light on the chemical profile and significant therapeutic potential of Cannabis root extracts, confirming the validity of their traditional uses and challenging their conventional status as waste products of Cannabis cultivation.
The results presented in this work add evidence to the broad spectrum of biological systems in which Cannabis-sourced derivatives have a potential effect, not only because of cannabinoids, but also because of the possible action of phenolic and nitrogen-containing compounds. Through comprehensive investigation, we have demonstrated their remarkable antioxidant, anticholinesterase, and anti-inflammatory activities, along with their ability to protect mitochondrial membranes.
These findings underscore the importance of reevaluating the utilization of Cannabis roots in various therapeutic contexts, potentially offering new avenues for drug discovery and development. By recognizing the value of these often-overlooked plant components, we may uncover novel treatments for a range of medical conditions, thereby contributing to the advancement of natural product pharmacology and healthcare innovation. Further research in this area is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and explore the full therapeutic potential of Cannabis root extracts.”
“Cannabis sativa L. essential oil has attracted the interest of the scientific community thanks to its numerous biological activities. Several studies have evaluated EOs as alternative therapeutic approaches to limit the use of antibiotics; the present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro inhibitory and bactericidal activity of the essential oils obtained from the leaves and inflorescences of two hemp genotypes against twenty-one multidrug-resistant, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius strains isolated from canine clinical samples.
Both EOs were mainly represented by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, with a prevalence of β-caryophyllene and α-humulene. However, different relative amounts of phytocannabinoids were also detected. Microbiological results evidenced better outcomes for the EO characterised by the highest content of phytocannabinoids, which in turn showed no differences among the tested strains. Nevertheless, both the EOs showed better inhibitory and bactericidal activities than their main constituent, β-caryophyllene, tested individually, highlighting the presence of synergistic effects among the EO compounds.”
“The long-term stability in real and accelerated time for galenic oils based on full-spectrum cannabis has been studied, using sesame oil as a dilutant. Sesame oil is one of the most used vehicles in the cannabis pharmaceutical industry due to the costs and increased oral bioavailability of cannabinoids. The real-time assays conducted at 25 °C over twelve months demonstrated high stability and showed no significant changes in the composition of cannabinoids, total polyphenols, flavonoids, or antioxidant capacity. In these studies, it was observed that there was no development of microorganisms compromising the stability of the oils over a year. The three oil varieties exhibited a high bactericidal capacity against E. coli, S. aureus, and P. larvae.”
“Silver has been shown to improve the antibiotic effects of other drugs against both Gram- positive and -negative bacteria. In this study, we investigated the antibiotic potential of cannabidiol (CBD), cannabichromene (CBC) and cannabigerol (CBG) and their acidic counterparts (CBDA, CBCA, CBGA) against Gram-positive bacteria and further explored the additive or synergistic effects of silver nitrate or silver nanoparticles using 96-well plate growth assays and viability (CFUs- colony-forming units).
All six cannabinoids had strong antibiotic effects against MRSA with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 2 mg/L for CBG, CBD and CBCA; 4 mg/L for CBGA; and 8 mg/L for CBC and CBDA. Using 96-well checkerboard assays, CBC, CBG and CBGA showed full or partial synergy with silver nitrate; CBC, CBDA and CBGA were fully synergistic with silver nanoparticles against MRSA.
Using CFU assays, combinations of CBC, CBGA and CBG with either silver nitrate or silver nanoparticles, all at half or quarter MICs, demonstrated strong, time-dependent inhibition of bacterial growth (silver nitrate) and bactericidal effects (silver nanoparticles). These data will lead to further investigation into possible biomedical applications of specific cannabinoids in combination with silver salts or nanoparticles against drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria.”
“In conclusion, these studies confirm the antibiotic activity of CBG, CBC and CBD and the acidic forms of these agents against drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. The addition of silver, either as salts or nanoparticles, to select cannabinoids allows for much improved and, in some cases, synergistic antibiotic activity. Collectively, these findings strongly support further investigation of cannabinoid-enhanced silver preparations to assess their antimicrobial spectrum of activity and potential application in wound dressings or catheter coatings for an extended and more powerful antibiotic profile.”
