PROSPECTS OF CREATING MEDICINAL PRODUCTS BASED ON MEDICINAL PLANT RAW MATERIALS OF CANNABIS SPECIES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11603/mcch.2410-681X.2025.i1.15433Keywords:
cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, medicinal products, inflorescencesAbstract
Introduction. Cannabis has a long history of medicinal use, dating back thousands of years, and has historically been used to treat a variety of ailments. Following the prohibition of cannabis use in the 20th century, Western medical practice shifted from the use of botanical extracts and tinctures to a pharmacopeia that was largely composed of single-molecule therapeutics, and the establishment of strict rules for the testing and approval of new drugs in the highly competitive and lucrative pharmaceutical market.The aim of the study – to consider and evaluate all possible options for creating medicinal products based on medicinal plant raw materials of the Cannabis species.Research methods. The study data were obtained through publications from various scientific literature search engines.Results. Several pharmaceutical companies are working intensively to develop new drugs with isolated natural cannabis products, while others are focusing on studying the effects of crude extracts from cannabis inflorescences, which have recently proven superior to the use of a single molecule in medical treatment. It is vital to distinguish between cannabidiol (CBD) and CBD plus THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) formulations to ensure a clear understanding of the differences between active ingredients and formulations as they relate to specific applications. Scientists emphasize that cannabis is not a single drug, but rather a whole group of drugs, and the focus should be on creating cannabidiol-based drugs. A large body of pharmacological evidence supports the role of THC as the addictive agent in cannabis. THC produces the effects sought by recreational cannabis users. The inclusion of CBD in all forms of legally prescribed medical cannabis provides the basis for molecular mechanistic protection against addiction. Two single-molecule cannabinoid drugs (dronabinol and nabilone) are approved in the US, but no plant-based cannabinoid products. It is a common misconception that there is a difference in the effects of a single phytocannabinoid molecule (e.g., CBD) depending on whether it is synthetic or plant-based. The circumstances in which this may be true for botanical cannabinoid products versus synthetic products are limited to cases where one of the two substances contains impurities that contribute to the overall pharmacological or toxicological effect, or due to the inappropriate labeling of synthetic isomers as exact copies of naturally occurring cannabinoids.Conclusions. There is a need to develop clear, consistent, and targeted cannabinoid medicines. Whether they are herbal or single-molecule substances, these products must pass established standards of quality, safety, and efficacy before being approved for use.
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