TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page – – – – – – – i
Declaration – – – – – – – – ii
Certification – – – – – – – iii
Dedication – – – – – – – iv
Acknowledgements – – – – – – – v
Table of contents – – – – – – – vi
Abstract – – – – – – xi
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of Study – – – – – – – 1
1.2 Objective of Study- – – – – – – – – 4
1.3 Justification/Rationale for the Study- – – – – – 4
1.5 Significance of the Study- – – – – – – 6
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Cannabis Sativa Plant Description- – – – – – 6
2.1.1 Seedling:- – – – – – – – – – 7
2.1.2 Stem: – – – – – – – – – – 7
2.1.3 Leaves:- – – – – – – – – – 7
2.1.4 Buds or flowers on the cannabis plant:- – – – – 7
2.1.5 Smell of the cannabis plant, especially the leaves and flowers- – 8
2.1.6 Discovery and cultivation- – – – – – – 8
2.2 Scientific Classification of Cannabis- – – – – – 9
2.2.1 Species of Marijuana– – – – – – – – 10
2.2.1.1 Cannabis sativa- – – – – – – – – 10
2.2.1.2 Cannabis Indica- – – – – – – – 11
2.2.1.3 Cannabis Ruderalis- – – – – – – – 12
2.3 Economic Importance of Marijuana- – – – – – 15
2.4 Constituents of Cannabis- – – – – – – – 17
2.4.1 Phytocannabinoids — – – – – – – – 17
2.4.2 Classification- – – – – – – – – 18
2.4.3 Noncannabinoid-Type Constituents- – – – – – 20
2.4.4 Hydrocarbons- – – – – – – – – 23
2.4.5 Nitrogen-Containing Compounds – – – – 23
2.4.6 Carbohydrates- – – – – – – – – 24
2.4.7 Flavonoids- – – – – – – – – – 24
2.4.8 Fatty Acids- – – – – – – – – – 25
2.4.9 Noncannabinoid Phenols- – – – – – – 25
2.4.10 Other- – – – – – – – – – 26
2.4.11 Cannabinoid Receptor System- – – – – – 26
2.4.12 Cannabinoid 1 and 2 Receptors- – – – – – 27
2.5 Sex Hormones and Its Synthesis- – – – – – 28
2.6 The Protein Hormones- – – – – – – – 28
2.6.1 The Gonadotropins- – – – – – – – 28
2.6.2 Luteinizing Hormone (LH)- – – – – – – 29
2.6.3 Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)- – – – – 30
2.6.4 Prolactin (Prl)- – – – – – – – – 31
2.7 The Steroid Hormones- – – – – – – – 32
2.7.1 Oestrogens- – – – – – – – – – 32
2.7.2 Oestradiol (E2)- – – – – – – – – 32
2.7.3 Oestrone (E1)- – – – – – – – – 33
2.7.4 Oestriol (E3)- – – – – – – – – 33
2.7.5 Progesterone (P4)- – – – – – – – – 34
2.7.6 Testosterone (T)- – – – – – – – – 35
2.8 Cannabis Effects- – – – – – – – – 35
2.8.1 Endocrine effects – – – – – – – – 35
2.8.2 Hypothalamic Pituitary-Gonadal Axis – – – – – 35
2.9 Hpg Axis Effects In Males – – – – – – 37
2.9.1 Effects on Reproductive Hormones in Males – – – – 37
2.10 Effects on Prolactin – – – – – – – 39
2.10.1 Effects on other Body Systems – – – – – 40
2.10.2 Vitamin C – – – – – – – – – 41
2.10.3 Biosynthesis and molecular structure of vitamin C – – 43
2.10.4 Redox metabolism and antioxidant properties of vitamin C- – 44