Chemical Characterization and Antibacterial Assessment of Cannabis sativa Resins

Abstract

The antibacterial activity of two Cannabis sativa resins, obtained from plants cultivated in Argentina, was evaluated. Both resins were characterized by identifying the cannabinoid and their terpenoid content. One resin (from Los Cocos) was rich in tetrahydrocannabinol, while the other (from San Francisco) was rich in cannabidiol, and both were tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. The resins, dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide, showed greater effectiveness at 250 mg/mL than at 100 mg/mL. The resin from San Francisco was bactericidal at both tested concentrations against strains of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC (25923, 29213, and 6538), Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, and Bacillus subtilis subsp. Spizizenii ATCC 6633, while the resin from Los Cocos was effective against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC (25923 and 29213) and Bacillus subtilis subsp. Spizizenii ATCC 6633. Comparing both resins, the minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentration values for these strains were lower for Los Cocos resin. No bactericidal activity was found against Gram-negative strains of Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, or Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 14028 with either resin tested. The results suggest that Cannabis sativa resins are a promising option for the development of new antimicrobial agents, particularly targeting Gram-positive strains.