Aqueous Extracts of Cannabis sativa: Cytotoxicity and Effects on Angiogenesis, Oxidative Stress and Nitric Oxide Production

Cannabis sativa has been used in local medicine to manage cancer, ache, inflammation, diabetes, and other conditions. The aqueous extract of Cannabis sativa leaves collected from two geographical locations (South Africa, EC and Lesotho, LS) was assessed for their potential against angiogenesis, nitric oxide (NO) production, oxidative stress and cytotoxicity. The EC extract showed better angiogenesis and vascular endothelial growth factor suppression than the LS extract at 20 and 100 µg/mL. EC and LS displayed their highest NO inhibitory effects (91 and 76%) at the most negligible 1.6 µg/mL concentration. The glutathione and Catalase levels increased significantly in the MCF-7 cells following administration with EC and LS. In contrast, a decrease in the malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the cells' supernatant was found compared to the untreated cells. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis reveals the presence of cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinoilic acid (THCA), with EC and LS having a considerable number of similar peaks. The extracts were relatively non-cytotoxic within the concentration range evaluated (0.78125 -100–µg/mL), though selective effects on cell survival at some concentrations were observed. The study provides information to support the extensive folkloric use of the aqueous extract of C. sativa in cancer and other associated ailments, as well as diseases linked to oxidative stress. Studies on the aqueous extract using animal models or other relevant in vivo models are recommended.