Cannabis belongs to the family Cannabaceae, and phytocannabinoids are produced by the Cannabis sativa L. plant. A long-standing debate regarding the plant is whether it contains one or more species. Phytocannabinoids are bioactive natural products found in flowers, seeds, and fruits. They can be beneficial for treating human diseases (such as multiple sclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, and pain), the cellular metabolic process, and regulating biological function systems. In addition, several phytocannabinoids are used in various therapeutic and pharmaceutical applications. This study provides an overview of the different sources of phytocannabinoids; further, the biosynthesis of bioactive compounds involving various pathways is elucidated. The structural classification of phytocannabinoids is based on their decorated resorcinol core and the bioactivities of naturally occurring cannabinoids. Furthermore, phytocannabinoids have been studied in terms of their role in animal models and antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi; further, they show potential for therapeutic applications and are used in treating various human diseases. Overall, this review can help deepen the current understanding of the role of biotechnological approaches and the importance of phytocannabinoids in different industrial applications.

The pharmacological potential of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) has been widely studied. However, the majority of studies have focused on cannabidiol, isolated from the inflorescence and leaf of the plant. In the present study, we evaluated the anti-diabetic potential of hemp root water (HWE) and ethanol extracts (HEE) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced insulin-deficient diabetic mice. The administration of HWE and HEE ameliorated hyperglycemia and improved glucose homeostasis and islet function in STZ-treated mice (p < 0.05). HWE and HEE suppressed β-cell apoptosis and cytokine-induced inflammatory signaling in the pancreas (p < 0.05). Moreover, HWE and HEE normalized insulin-signaling defects in skeletal muscles and apoptotic response in the liver and kidney induced by STZ (p < 0.05). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of HWE and HEE showed possible active compounds which might be responsible for the observed anti-diabetic potential. These findings indicate the possible mechanisms by which hemp root extracts protect mice against insulin-deficient diabetes, and support the need for further studies geared towards the application of hemp root as a novel bioactive material.