According to a recent study [1] by research scientists at PBG BioPharma, friedelin is the most prominent triterpenoid in cannabis, a chemical compound concentrated in the roots[2]. Traditionally, cannabis roots were used to treat inflammation, gout, arthritis, joint pain, fever, hard tumors, and infections [3].
One of the triterpenoids identified in cannabis root, friedelin, contains anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, estrogenic, anti-cancer, and liver protectant properties[3]. Friedelin has also been identified in other herbal medicines. For example, friedelin is found in the leaves of Azima tetracantha Lam. (bee sting bush), containing a relatively high amount at 0.36% [4]. Friedelin is also isolated from the dried leaves of shorea robusta (shala tree), which has been commonly used in traditional Indian medicine[5]. Cannabis contains more than ten times more friedelin than shala tree - dried cannabis roots and stem barks contain between 0.1% to 0.15%, which makes them promising sources of triterpenoids.
Modern medicine has not fully developed the therapeutic potential of cannabis roots. Their traditional use may be used as a point of reference for future clinical research.
Reference
Jin D, Dai K, Xie Z, Chen J (2020) Secondary Metabolites Profiled in Cannabis Inflorescences, Leaves, Stem Barks, and Roots for Medicinal Purposes. Scientific Reports 10:3309
Russo EB, Marcu J (2017) Cannabis Pharmacology: The Usual Suspects and a Few Promising Leads. In: Cannabinoid Pharmacology. Elsevier, pp 67–134
Ryz NR, Remillard DJ, Russo EB (2017) Cannabis Roots: A Traditional Therapy with Future Potential for Treating Inflammation and Pain. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research 2:210–216
Antonisamy P, Duraipandiyan V, Ignacimuthu S (2011) Anti‐inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects of friedelin isolated from Azima tetracantha Lam. in mouse and rat models. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 63:1070–1077
Chauhan S m. s., Singh M, Narayan L (2002) Isolation of 3β-hydroxyolean-12-ene, friedelin and 7-methoxy-4′-5-dihydroxyisoflavone from dry and fresh leaves of Shorea robusta. Indian Journal of Chemistry - Section B Organic and Medicinal Chemistry 41:1097–1099
