A comparative study on phytochemical analysis and biological properties of three varieties of cannabis sativa L. seeds

Abstract This study evaluated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties of three varieties of Cannabis sativa L. seeds from Morocco, alongside their chemical compositions. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array Detection (HPLC-DAD) were employed for chemical analysis. Antioxidant activity was assessed using ABTS, TAC, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, while anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects were tested in animal models. Molecular docking targeted 5IKQ and 3RP8 enzymes based on HPLC-identified compounds. The hydroalcoholic extracts demonstrated appreciable levels of phenolics and flavonoids: total phenolic content (TPC) was 76.87 ± 0.24 mg GAE/g DW (Cric), 81.45 ± 1.37 mg GAE/g DW (Khard), and 84.96 ± 2.05 mg GAE/g DW (Beldiya), while total flavonoid content (TFC) was 3.34 ± 0.22 mg QE/g DW (Cric), 3.56 ± 0.07 mg QE/g DW (Khard), and 3.32 ± 0.12 mg QE/g DW (Beldiya).HPLC results revealed polyphenolic compounds, including Catechin, Quercetin, Ursolic acid, and Rosmarinic acid. The Beldiya variety showed the strongest antioxidant activity, with IC50 values of 0.12 ± 0.07 mg/mL (DPPH), 0.71 ± 0.01 mg/mL (ABTS), and 0.32 ± 0.04 mg/mL (FRAP). It also exhibited notable anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects at 300 mg/kg, comparable to aspirin and indomethacin. Molecular docking confirmed Quercetin, Catechin, and Rosmarinic acid as potent antioxidants, with Quercetin, Catechin, and Ursolic acid showing significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential. These findings underscore the therapeutic value of Cannabis sativa seeds for health applications.