Page 128 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303 (1)

Pharmacognosy-2 (PG303) Level 2 Clinical Pharmacy-Pharm D

CANNABIS HERB

(Indian hemp, Hashish)

The dried flowering and fruiting tops of pistillate plants of Cannabis sativa Linne Family:
Cannabinaceae.

It is an annual plant, Indigenous to central and west Asia but now largely cultivated in
tropical countries (USA/ Mexico) for the production of oleo-resin. In temperate countries
(Europe), it is mass cultivated for its strong fibers and oily seeds (hemp seed).

Macroscopical Characters
The plants occur in irregular flattened or cylindrical dull green to greenish- brown
agglutinated masses, harsh resinous or loose less resinous in touch. It has narcotic and
characteristic odor and very slight or no taste. The stem is cylindrical, longitudinally furrowed,
hairy, pale green to light brown in color with ascending branches bearing numerous bracts, in the
axil of which small cymose inflorescences arise. The leaves are generally broken simple,
lanceolate, petiolate, alternate with entire margin. The lower leaves are palmately lobed and hacve
serrate margin. The bracts are numerous, either simple and sessile or palmately compound of
three leaflets and short petioles, each has small stipules. The lower bracts are larger, resemble the
foliage leaves, palmately compound with 3- 5 leaflets, which are narrowely lanceolate with serrate
margins and acute apices. The central leaflets are larger and about 3 cm L. In the axil of each bract
are two boat shaped bracteoles with acute apices, each enclosing a single small pistillate flower.
The flower has a minute ovary (2 mm length) enveloped by a membranous perianth termed
perigone, surmounted by two long brownish- red hairy stigmas, within the ovary is one ovule. The
fruit is small indehiscent, 6 mm L. and 4 mm W., glossy, ovoid with several longitudinal veins
due to the presence of the enlarged, persistent bracteoles enveloping the fruit. It has a single seed
with a small oily endosperm and large incumbent embryo.

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