Cannabis sativa L.: Botany and horticulture

Abstract

As a plant, Cannabis is a highly variable species. It belongs to family Cannabaceae. Whether the genus Cannabis contains one species or more has been a matter of debate for a long time. The plant produces a unique class of terpenophenolic compounds called cannabinoids. A total of 565 Cannabis constituents have been isolated from Cannabis sativa so far, out of which 120 are phytocannabinoids. The plant has gained a lot of popularity in the last few decades for not only being an illicit drug but for its medicinal values from ancient times and a potential source for modern drugs to treat several targets for human wellness. The pharmacologic and therapeutic properties of preparations of C. Sativa and 9-THC, its most psychoactive compound, have been extensively reviewed. An additional important cannabinoid in Cannabis of current interest is Cannabidiol (CBD) due to its reported activity as an antiepileptic agent, particularly its promise for the treatment of intractable pediatric epilepsy. Therefore, there is much interest in propagating compound based crops for medical purposes. In this chapter, the focus is laid on the botanical aspects of C. Sativa and its cultivation for phytopharmaceuticals.