Phytochemical Screening of Hemp and its Anti-Inflammatory Activity, Antibacterial Activity and Cytotoxic Activity

Background and Objective: Hemp is one of the most popular plants commonly used by people since time immemorial due to its wide applications. It is a species of Apocynum cannabinum, of the family Apocynaceae reported to be effective in the treatment of nausea and vomiting and also strongly linked with cancer chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the phytochemical constituents of the methanolic crude extract of hemp and its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and cytotoxicity activity from its polar and non-polar solvent extracts. Materials and Methods: Phytochemical screening of Hemp was carried out using GC-MS. Evaporation was done with a retovap. Antibacterial cultures were inoculated with Mueller-Hinton agar (MHA) using the disc diffusion method, lethality test was then carried out using Brine Shrimp (Artemia salina). After which carrageenan pedal inflammation was induced in rats. Results: Phytochemical screening of methanol crude extract of Hemp dogbane leaves revealed a total number of 100 chemical constituents among which are (E)-beta-famesene, caryophyllene, eucalyptol, caryophyllene oxide and tetrahydrocannabinol. The anti-inflammatory property of the crude extract of hexane, dichloromethane, chloroform and methanol extracts on carrageenan-induced paw reduced the incidence of paw oedema by 77.57, 69.66, 76.12 and 81.72%, respectively. The anti-bacterial screening showed a significant inhibition value, with higher inhibition obtained with methanol crude extract of 27.31±0.14 µg mL‾1 on Escherichia coli at 500 µg mL‾1 and the lower inhibition was observed at 50 µg mL‾1 on Salmonella typhi 8.70±0.00 µg mL‾1, while the value of the mortality rate of larvae was 77.57, 69.66, 76.12 and 81.72%, respectively for the solvent crude extract. Conclusion: Hemp leaf extract showed high antibacterial, anti-inflammation and cytotoxic activities and thus added scientific information on the medicinal use of hemp.