# Evaluating the Metabolomic Profile and Anti-Pathogenic Properties of _Cannabis_ Species
## 3 Results and Discussion
### Insecicidal Activities of Cannabis  
Overall, various plants have shown potential to be used for their insecticidal and parasiticidal properties. Evidence suggests that essential oils and secondary metabolites of many plants have been largely exploited and proved to be effective against insect pests [161]. Among others, _Cannabis_-based insecticides and repellents were also traditionally employed in many parts of the world's rural communities to protect crops from phytophagous arthropods [162]. Thus far, research studies focusing on the insecticidal activity of essential oils and active metabolites possessed by _Cannabis_ have been undertaken as alternatives to effectively control ectoparasites of veterinary importance with great relevance, including _Ctenocphalides felis_[163]. In this respect, _Cannabis_ essential oils and many other active metabolites have hitherto been under-researched, and it appears to have been limitedly exploited commercially. Some previous papers report that _C. sativa_ leaf essential oil demonstrated the presence of abundant terpen and aliphatic compounds, which were observed to possess insecticidal activity in some medicinal plants such as _Azadirachta indica_, _Melia zzedarach_, and _Lantana camara_[164]. [PERSON] et al. [165] studied the effect of _C. sativa_ essential oil against malaria vectors known as _Anopheles gambiae_ and _Anopheles stephensi_ and proved to be effective. Another scientific study documented that essential oil obtained from the fresh infloresence of _C. sativa_ displayed strong toxic effects against _Malus domestica_ due to the presence of monoterenes and sesquiterpenes [166]. These results proved to be eco-friendly as there was toxicity observed in non-targeted organisms [167]. However, the mechanism of action underlying this effect is still not clear nor elucidated. Although the insecticidal and antiparasitic activities of the essential oils and cannabinoid compounds have already been demonstrated in arthropods in the literature [168], it has not been demonstrated in some insects with medical importance, including bed bugs and water bugs. Other publications revealed that not only does the stickiness of _Cannabis_ exudates trap insects, but it also possesses insecticidal and repellent activities [169]. Additionally, it may provide a possible synergistic mechanochemical defense in combination with the insecticidal phytocannabinoid acids, mainly tetrahydroocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidolic acid (CBDA), and cannabichromenic acid (CBCA) [170]. Nevertheless, this synergistic mechanochemical with phytocannabinoids has not been evaluated against several insect pest species. Most literature reports on essential oils from infloresences and leaves of _Cannabis_ suggest that roots, stem barks, bud extracts, and their metabolites which were previously reported to possess antimicrobial properties are substantially untapped for their insecticidal activities. The essential oils from infloresences have so far covered a large proportion of insect pests. For instance, [PERSON] et al. [153] further compared the activity of _Cannabis_ essential oil from infloresences against _Myzus persicae_, _Culex quinquefasciatus_, _Spodoptera litteralis_, and _M. domestica_. The results revealed high toxicity against _M. domestica_ and _M. persicae_, moderate toxicity against the larvae of _S. litteralis_, and small toxicity against _C. quinquefasciatus_. Phytoconstituents analysis often reported to contribute to the insecticidal activity are major terpen, such as \(\beta\)-myrcene and \(\beta\)-careophyllene, obtained from infloresences [171]. Most scientists assume that the higher prevalence of sesquiterpenes in the examined essential oils could be due to the drying process, which might have induced some chemical modifications in the composition of the starting material, including the evaporation of the low boiling-point compounds and occurrence of oxidative reactions, as in the conversion of \(\beta\)-careophyllene in carophyllene oxide, a major component of essential _Cannabis_ oil [172].