Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Cannabis sativa L. Flowers from the Ketama Region in Northern Morocco

Abstract

Within the framework of Bill No.13-21 on the legal use of cannabis in Morocco, we studied the Cannabis sativa L. plant, known as ‘Beldeya,’ grown in the Ketama region of northern Morocco. In the present study, phytochemical screening, a quantitative study on ethanol, chloroform, and hexane extracts of cannabis flowers, and a study of antioxidant potential were carried out. In all three extracts, phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of different kinds of secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, anthocyanins, tannins, and reducing sugars. The Folin-Ciocalteu technique was used to measure the total amount of polyphenols, and the results showed that the total amount of polyphenols varied from 1.802 mg to 2.225 mg of gallic acid equivalent (EqAG). Flavonoid assay with Aluminum chloride (AlCl3) revealed that all three extracts contained flavonoids, ranging from 0.242 mg to 0.442 mg quercetin equivalent (EqQ). Using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) reduction test, antioxidant activity was evaluated. The results obtained show that the ethanolic extract exhibited superior activity, with an IC50 value of 231.39 μg/ml, followed by the hexanic and chloroformic extracts, having IC50 values of 376.40 μg/ml and 769.60 μg/ml, respectively.