Antimicrobial and antifungal activity of encapsulated Cannabis extracts against microbes causing skin diseases

Bc. Bashir Mohamed Maelin

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Abstract Skin is the first defenses barrier against physical and chemical agents as well as microbial pathogens. The most common bacterial skin pathogens are Staphylococcus aureus and group A β-hemolytic streptococci. Impetigo, folliculitis, and boils are common types of diseases caused by bacteria. Several genera of fungi (Dermatophytes) are responsible for diseases of the skin. Universally recognized causing agents of these diseases are Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton. Despite the undeniable global benefits of antibiotics, the overuse or misuse of antibiotics has been linked to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) which is one of the most serious global public health threats in this century rendering treatment and effectivity of the antibiotics. The development of this antimicrobial resistance has revealed the need for new effective and safe antimicrobial compounds for skin diseases. The study evaluates in vitro antimicrobial activities of cannabis sativa extracts and chitosan encapsulated cannabis extracts. Both non-capsulated and encapsulated cannabis extract of Chocolope strain were active against the microbial strains tested both bacteria and fungus, the most sensitive bacteria to all tested antimicrobial agents was S. epidermidis 4069.The results of the experiment verified that cannabis extracts and chitosan encapsulated cannabis extract have antimicrobial activity against microorganisms causing skin diseases. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of non-encapsulated cannabis extracts ranging 8- 16 µg /ml and minimum bactericidal concentration 16-32 µg /ml and chitosan encapsulated cannabis has MIC ranging 0.5mg/ml – 1mg/ml. In comparison with chloramphenicol the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of all tested strains ranged 2-8 µg /ml and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) ranged 4-16 µg /ml. Against T. rubrum 4934 the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of cannabis extracts was 128 µg /ml the minimum fungicidal concentration was 256 µg /ml. In conclusion, cannabis extracts could be suitable for the treatment of skin diseases caused by the microbials tested.

Keywords

cannabis extract, skin, antimicrobial activity, resistance, encapsulation

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 14. 4. 2022

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: doc. Ing. Adéla Fraňková, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources

Master programme:
Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security