Cannabis sativa: an overview

Abstract Cannabis sativa spp. is an exceptional multicomponent natural resource used as nutritional supplements, textiles, building materials, body care products, food, and medicines, to name a few. It has been cultivated for millennia to exploit the plant’s toolbox of useful natural compounds it offers. This chapter explores the chemical constituents responsible for the plant’s therapeutic properties and examines efficacious compounds as nutraceuticals. A qualitative and quantitative look at these components highlights important trends for both fiber-type hemp and medical C. sativa. Key aspects of C. sativa taxonomy, biology, and biochemistry are addressed. Specifically, the convergent biosynthetic pathways used by the plant to produce cannabinoids and terpenes are outlined. The biologically active components are described at a molecular level and the in vitro and in vivo data are compiled to offer quantitative insight into the mechanism of action, as well as their potential for use as nutraceuticals.