Chemical analysis of <i>Cannabis sativa</i> L. roots from Northeastern Brazil and their potential in the development of new drugs

This study analyzes the chemical characteristics of a lyophilised aqueous extract of <i>Cannabis sativa</i> roots (AECsR) from northeastern Brazil using analytical techniques. Thermogravimetry was used for thermal analysis. Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) and HPLC coupled to diode array detector (DAD) were used for the chemical analysis. Thermogravimetry analysis revealed two thermal events. FTIR analysis showed five bands of interest. HPLC-MS analysis suggested the presence of four compounds. HPLC-DAD confirmed the presence of N-<i>trans</i>-feruloyltyramine and identified and quantified <i>p</i>-coumaric acid for the first time in <i>Cannabis</i> roots from Vale do São Francisco - Brazil. This finding represents a step forward in the chemical standardisation of <i>Cannabis</i> root extracts, facilitating the use of this data for the development of new drugs derived from the <i>Cannabis</i> roots.