Cannabis: A review on the “weed of wonder”

Abstract

Cannabis has garnered an enhanced level of attention by researchers due to its tremendous pharmacological potential and its legalization in numerous countries. Although it is reported to negatively affect the environment and human life yet nowadays, it is no longer viewed as a substance of Abuse only but also viewed as a substance of use. Recently, the immense pharmacological potential of cannabinoids is employed in treating diverse animal and human diseases. Prior interest in cannabis was because of its psychoactive component THC however presently non-psychoactive cannabinoids with novel biological activities lead to the revelation of novel therapeutically valuable medications. A major flavonoid namely caflanone, obtained from cannabis shows activity against Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), certain cancers and has entered clinical trials. Anti- inflammatory action of cannabinoids is suggested to be employed in future drugs to decrease the severity of COVID 19 symptoms. This review presents the summary of extraction, isolation, structure elucidation of chief cannabinoids, impacts on the environment and human health along with pharmacological potentials of cannabis.