Comparative analysis of phytochemical profile and bioactivities of <i>Cannabis sativa</i> L. organs: insights into <i>α</i> -amylase inhibition, anti-inflammatory activity, antibacterial and antifungal effect

Abstract

Abstract Cannabis sativa L. has a long history of use in traditional medicine. This study investigates the phytochemical composition and biological activities of the Moroccan “Beldiya” variety. The phytochemical profile was assessed by quantifying polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins, while Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) was applied to identify major bioactive compounds, including Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9 -THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and α -linoleic acid. The antimicrobial potential of extracts from different plant organs (flowers, leaves, stems, and seeds) was tested against four bacterial and four fungal strains. The flower extract showed the strongest antimicrobial effect. In addition, the extracts were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity using the bovine serum albumin (BSA) denaturation assay and for α -amylase inhibitory activity. The highest anti-inflammatory effect was observed in the flower extract (IC50 = 472.7 ± 11 μg/mL),whereas the leaf extract exhibited the most potent α -amylase inhibition (IC 50 = 138 ± 5 μg/mL). Molecular docking analyses further confirmed the inhibitory potential of the identified compounds against human pancreatic α -amylase and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Overall, the findings suggest that C. sativa L. “Beldiya” represents a valuable source of bioactive molecules with significant pharmacological potential, meriting further in vivo studies to clarify its therapeutic applications.