Evaluation of Microbiological quality and antibacterial activity of Cannabis artisanal oil used in Brazil

AVALIAÇÃO DA QUALIDADE MICROBIOLÓGICA E DA ATIVIDADE ANTIBACTERIANA DO ÓLEO ARTESANAL DE CANNABIS UTILIZADO NO BRASIL

Abstract

The medicinal use of Cannabis sativa has been highlighted as an alternative in the treatment of neurological diseases, due to the cannabidiol (CBD), with anticonvulsant properties. This study evaluated the microbiological quality and antibacterial activity of Cannabis extracts used by patients with refractory epilepsy in order to bring more safety in their use and prescription. Around of 70 samples of Cannabis extracts were evaluated, 10 of them used for antibacterial activity tests. Microbiological quality was measured by observing the growth of bacteria, after the inoculation of the Cannabis extract into BHI Agar, BEM Agar, MacConkey Agar and Mueller-Hinton Agar culture media. For antimicrobial activity, a modified Kirby-Bauer method was performed with 11 bacterial isolates considered potentially pathogenic. Of the analyzed samples, 70 showed no bacterial contamination during its preparation, distribution and storage process, making them safe from a microbiological perspective for human consumption. Regarding antimicrobial activity, the 10 samples tested showed no inhibitory activity against the listed bacteria. The product may not interfere with the microbiota of users being treated, as some of the isolates are part of the human microbiota. Analysis of the microbiological quality and antibacterial activity of cannabis used in patients with severe neurological disorder is of fundamental importance to ensure better safety in its use. Therefore, all Cannabis extracts tested are free of microbial contamination that may compromise product quality, and none of the extracts used in this study inhibited the in vitro growth of the tested bacteria.