COMPARATIVE STUDY OF POLYPHENOLIC COMPOSITION AND REDUCING PROPERTIES OF EXTRACTS OF CANNABIS SATIVA L., CANNABIS INDICA AND CANNABIS HYBRID

Abstract

Cannabis Sativa L., Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Hybrid are widespread plant species that find legal use in many countries around the world. The first of them has found considerable application in medicine, cosmetics, building construction, textile and food industries. Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Hybrid are used as raw materials for the extraction of oils that are used as pain relievers as well as for recreation purposes. 
The aim of the present study is to compare the polyphenolic composition of extracts from the three types of plants, by the maceration method of dry green leaf mass consisting of inflorescences and leaves. Ethanol (99.9 %) is used as an extractant, and the duration of the maceration process is seven days, at room temperature and stirring. The polyphenol composition is determined using HPLC-DAD method.

The following polyphenol composition is found in extracts of Cannabis Sativa L.: epigallocatechin, rutin, myricetin, quercetin and kaempferol. On the other hand, quercetin and kaempferol are detected in the Cannabis Indica samples, while epigallocatechin, quercetin and kaempferol are present in the hybrid sort. In addition, green synthesis of silver nanoparticles by using sunlight or microwave irradiation was carried out to evaluate the reduction properties of three cannabis extracts. The least quantity of silver nanoparticles was obtained in the presence of Cannabis Sativa L. extracts. From the other two species of cannabis, microwave irradiation produces more silver nanoparticles, with smaller sizes, while exposure to direct sunlight produces fewer particles,
but with larger sizes.