![]() ![]() In earlier times, cannabis root was used to treat gout. 3, 8 Despite a long history of therapeutic use ( Table 1), the roots of cannabis plants have been largely ignored in modern medical research and practice. 6–8 There are also accounts of cannabis root being used to treat postpartum hemorrhage, 13 difficult child labor, 14 sexually transmitted disease, 15 and gastrointestinal activity 16, 17 and infection. ![]() One of the first mentions of the medical use of cannabis root was by the Roman historian, Pliny the Elder, who wrote in his Natural Histories that “a decoction of the root in water relaxes contractions of the joints and cures gout and similar maladies.” 1 By the latter part of 17th century, various physicians and herbalists recommended cannabis root to treat fever, 2, 3 inflammation, 4–9 gout, arthritis, and joint pain, 1, 5, 6, 8, 10–12 as well as skin burns 5, 8, 10 and hard tumors. The cannabis plant is known for its multiple uses: the leaves, flowers, seeds, stalks, and resin glands have all been exploited for food, fuel, fiber, medicine, and other uses. Certainly, this suggests the need for reexamination of whole root preparations on inflammatory and malignant conditions employing modern scientific techniques. Of note, cannabis roots are not a significant source of Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol, or other known phytocannabinoids.Ĭonclusion: The current available data on the pharmacology of cannabis root components provide significant support to the historical and ethnobotanical claims of clinical efficacy. Active compounds identified and measured in cannabis roots include triterpenoids, friedelin (12.8 mg/kg) and epifriedelanol (21.3 mg/kg) alkaloids, cannabisativine (2.5 mg/kg) and anhydrocannabisativine (0.3 mg/kg) carvone and dihydrocarvone N-( p-hydroxy- β-phenylethyl)- p-hydroxy- trans-cinnamamide (1.6 mg/kg) various sterols such as sitosterol (1.5%), campesterol (0.78%), and stigmasterol (0.56%) and other minor compounds, including choline. There has been a subsequent paucity of research in this area, with only a few studies examining the composition of cannabis root and its medical potential. By the 17th century, various herbalists were recommending cannabis root to treat inflammation, joint pain, gout, and other conditions. However, the therapeutic potential of cannabis roots has been largely ignored in modern times.ĭiscussion: In the first century, Pliny the Elder described in Natural Histories that a decoction of the root in water could be used to relieve stiffness in the joints, gout, and related conditions. Introduction: The roots of the cannabis plant have a long history of medical use stretching back millennia.
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