Cannabis-Bacteria Interaction: Trends in Secondary Metabolites, Biocontrol, and By-products.

Abstract

In the last decade, the interest in cannabis cultivation has grown significantly, driven by its various applications and the presence of key cannabinoids such as cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG). However, this increase in production has heightened susceptibility to contaminants, especially microorganisms, such as pathogenic bacteria, which pose risks to both human health and the plant itself. Nonetheless, a promising outlook emerges with the biological utilization of certain bacterial species. This study focused on a bibliometric evaluation of the interaction between Cannabis and bacteria, analyzing research trends related to metabolites, biocontrol, and by-products. To achieve this, scientific literature was reviewed in databases such as Scopus and Web of Science (WOS) from 2000 to 2023. The data was processed and analyzed using methodologies such as "Tree of Science" (ToS) and Prisma, using tools like R-Studio and Bibliometrix. The results highlight two predominant areas in this interaction: the application of biotechnology to enhance cultivation and utilize metabolites for medical purposes and the assessment of antibacterial properties in Cannabis extracts and essential oils, along with the use of beneficial bacteria for biocontrol in cannabis plants. Several avenues for future research are proposed, considering identified knowledge gaps.