Research Article

Essential oils of different cultivars of Cannabis sativa L. and their antimicrobial activity

  1. Johannes Novak1,*,
  2. Karin Zitterl-Eglseer1,
  3. Stanley G. Deans2,
  4. Chlodwig M. Franz1

Article first published online: 22 MAY 2001

DOI: 10.1002/ffj.993

Issue

Flavour and Fragrance Journal

Flavour and Fragrance Journal

Volume 16, Issue 4, pages 259–262, July/August 2001

Additional Information

How to Cite

Novak, J., Zitterl-Eglseer, K., Deans, S. G. and Franz, C. M. (2001), Essential oils of different cultivars of Cannabis sativa L. and their antimicrobial activity. Flavour Fragr. J., 16: 259–262. doi: 10.1002/ffj.993

Author Information

  1. 1

    Institute for Applied Botany, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Wien, Austria

  2. 2

    Scottish Agricultural College, Auchincruive, KA6 5HW Ayr, UK

*Institute for Applied Botany, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Wien, Austria.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 22 MAY 2001
  2. Article first published online: 22 MAY 2001
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 15 JAN 2001
  4. Manuscript Revised: 20 DEC 2000
  5. Manuscript Received: 12 JUL 2000

Funded by

  • Hanfboerse-Austria, Austria.

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Keywords:

  • Cannabis sativa L.;
  • Cannabaceae;
  • essential oil composition;
  • myrcene;
  • trans-β-ocimene;
  • trans-caryophyllene;
  • cannabinoids;
  • antimicrobial activity

Abstract

The essential oils of five different cultivars of Cannabis sativa contained as main compounds α-pinene, myrcene, trans-β-ocimene, α-terpinolene, trans-caryophyllene and α-humulene. The content of α-terpinolene divided the cultivars in two distinct groups, an Eastern European group of cultivars of approximately 8% and a French group of cultivars of around 16%. Therefore, this compound might be suitable as a genetic marker for the two breeding centres for the fibre types of Cannabis sativa. The content of trans-caryophyllene was up to 19%. However, the content of caryophyllene oxide did not exceed 2%. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Cannabis sativa can be regarded as modest. Nevertheless, cultivar differences were visible. Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) could not be detected in any of the essential oils and the amount of other cannabinoids was very poor. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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