Category Archives: Uncategorized

Hemp seed protein: a promising meat protein substitute with high nutritional value, high safety, and high meat like aroma characteristics

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“Despite advances in alternative proteins, it remains unclear whether novel plant proteins can achieve high nutritional digestibility, safety, and meat-like flavor. Therefore, this study evaluates hemp seed protein as a meat substitute through comparison with other alternative proteins and beef.

Nutritional analyses (amino/fatty acid composition, in vivo/in vitro digestibility) showed that Hemp seed protein meat patties (HSMP) are abundant in essential amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids, with higher protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS), metabolic amino acid digestibility (MAAD) and true ileal digestibility (TID) than plant-based protein meet patties (PPMPs). Safety evaluations (sensitization, storage stability) indicated low IgG/IgE reactivity and robust pH/carbonylation stability for HSMP. Sensory evaluation combined with GC-IMS showed that the flavor of HSMP is most similar to beef depending on 1,8-eucalyptol, octanal, and 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazine.

In summary, this study confirms that HSMP is a valid alternative food protein source and provides methodological insights to improve product applicability.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41916225

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814626011787?via%3Dihub

Hemp Essential Oils as Novel Antioxidant and Bacteriostatic Agents in PLA-Based Packaging

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“Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) films containing two different hemp-derived essential oils (EOs), Carmagnola CS (Carm) and Futura 75 (Fut), at 1, 5, and 10% wt were successfully produced via solvent casting for packaging applications. The influence of EO presence, type, and concentration on the chemical, morphological, and thermal properties of the PLA-based films was investigated. In addition, radical-scavenging activity, water transport properties, and antimicrobial performance were evaluated to assess the effect of EOs on the structural and functional characteristics of the resulting packaging materials.

FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the successful incorporation of the hemp essential oils Carm and Fut into the polymer matrix, with a concentration-dependent effect that is more pronounced for Fut than for Carm. In the second heating run, evaluated by DSC measurements, both EOs lowered Tg from 60.3 °C (PLA) to 52.0 °C for PLA_10 Carm and 55.1 °C for PLA_10 Fut.

The EOs act as plasticizers in the PLA matrix, improving the deformation at break. Gas barrier measurements showed that permeability decreased from 3027 ± 300 Barrer (PLA) to (2499 ± 44) Barrer in PLA_10 Carm and 2623 ± 130 Barrer in PLA_10 Fut, with a corresponding reduction in diffusivity. The barrier improvement factor reached 17% for Carm and 15% for Fut, confirming the enhanced barrier performance of PLA_EOs films. DPPH assays showed that PLA_EOs films retained most of the antioxidant activity of the free oils, with only a 10-15% reduction for PLA_Fut and no significant loss for PLA_Carm after one week. After one month, the activity of Carm in PLA film decreased by 18%, whereas the performance of its free form remained unchanged, confirming the superior and more stable radical scavenging capacity of Carm compared to Fut.

Overall, the study demonstrates that hemp essential oils can be effectively integrated into PLA without compromising structural integrity, while preserving antioxidant performance and enhancing water barrier properties, supporting their potential as sustainable active packaging components.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41977572

https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/7/824

Natural Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvent-Based Enhanced Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Cannabis sativa L. Leaf for Pharmaceutical Applications

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“Cannabis sativa L. leaves (CSL) are a rich in bioactive compounds and known for their medicinal and recreational uses. In this study, a natural hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent (HDES) system composed of menthol and thymol (1:1) was employed for the efficient extraction of bioactive compounds from CSL.

Extraction of bioactives was optimized at various conditions involving DES/ethanol ratio, temperature, and extraction time, as well as shaking speed through statistical models including response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN). The maximum bioactive yield, equal to 70% (w/w) of powdered CSL, was achieved at optimized values of 5.5 mL DES, 4.5 mL ethanol, and 225 rpm shaking speed at 55 °C for 107.5 min. It was observed that slightly adjusting the shaking speed and temperatures customized the nature of bioactives with more antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial properties. The extracts of CSL produced while applying natural HDES were found to be non-toxic during hemolytic assay.

Overall, HDES when mixed with ethanol in 55:45 ratio produced CSL extracts with an ample level of phenolics (133.75 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids (120.05 mg QE/g). GC-MS analysis of CSL extracts produced by HDES revealed the presence of multiple bioactives like tetrahydrocannabivarin, cannabidiol, cannabinol, cannabidivarol, dl-menthol, levomenthol, and 4-hydroxy-3-methylacetophenone.

Based on these findings, it can be concluded that HDES in combination with ethanol may work as an efficient extraction solvent to recover CSL bioactives without compromising their antioxidant features and safety for use in food and pharmaceutical applications.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41977123

 “In conclusion, HDES–ethanol extraction offers a green, efficient, and biocompatible approach for isolating bioactive compounds from C. sativa, with promising applications in pharmaceuticals targeting oxidative stress, metabolic disorders, and microbial infections.”

https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/7/2933

A pharmacological roadmap for the Cannabaceae family: Prioritizing the therapeutic potential of neglected genera beyond Cannabis and Humulus

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“The Cannabaceae family presents a significant paradox in modern pharmacology; it is simultaneously one of the most intensely researched and most profoundly neglected plant families. The immense scientific, cultural, and economic significance of Cannabis and Humulus has cast a long shadow, obscuring the potential of the family’s other nine genera.

This paper provides the first comprehensive synthesis of the available ethnobotanical, phytochemical, and pharmacological data across all 11 genera to systematically expose this research disparity. It argues that genera such as Trema, Celtis, and Aphananthe, which possess a rich history of use in traditional medicine, represent an underexplored frontier for discovering novel, safer, and non-psychoactive therapeutics.

These genera are rich in flavonoids, polyphenols, triterpenoids, and alkaloids, offering alternatives to THC-based medicines and their associated adverse effects. By juxtaposing the well-characterized pharmacology of Cannabis and Humulus with the nascent data and vast potential of their relatives, this analysis reveals critical knowledge gaps and opportunity costs.

Ultimately, this report presents a strategic roadmap for future research, outlining a multidisciplinary approach and a prioritization model to guide the scientific community.

The aim is to rebalance research priorities and unlock the full medicinal promise of the entire Cannabaceae family, bridging the gap between traditional wisdom and modern drug discovery.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41946416

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0367326X26001486?via%3Dihub

Dynamic Mechanism for Subtype Selectivity of Endocannabinoids

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“Endocannabinoids are naturally occurring lipid-like molecules that bind to cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) and regulate many of human bodily functions via the endocannabinoid system.

There is a tremendous interest in developing selective drugs that target the CB receptors.

However, the biophysical mechanisms responsible for the subtype selectivity for endocannabinoids have not been established. Recent experimental structures of CB receptors show that endocannabinoids potentially bind via membrane using the lipid access channel in the transmembrane region of the receptors. Furthermore, the N-terminus of the receptor could move in and out of the binding pocket thereby modulating both the pocket volume and its residue composition.

On the basis of these observations, we propose two hypotheses to explain the selectivity of the endocannabinoid, anandamide for CB1 receptor. First, the selectivity arises from distinct enthalpic ligand-protein interactions along the ligand binding pathway formed due to the movement of N-terminus and subsequent shifts in the binding pocket composition. Second, selectivity arises from the volumetric differences in the binding pocket allowing for differences in ligand conformational entropy.

To quantitatively test these hypotheses, we perform extensive molecular dynamics simulations (∼0.9 milliseconds) along with Markov state modeling and deep learning-based VAMPnets to provide an interpretable characterization of the anandamide binding process to cannabinoid receptors and explain its selectivity for CB1.

Our findings reveal that the distinct N-terminus positions along lipid access channels between TM1 and TM7 lead to different binding mechanisms and interactions between anandamide and the binding pocket residues. To validate the critical stabilizing interactions along the binding pathway, relative free energy calculations of anandamide analogs are used. Moreover, the larger CB2 pocket volume increases the entropic effects of ligand binding by allowing higher ligand fluctuations but reduced stable interactions. Therefore, the opposing enthalpy and entropy effects between the receptors shape the endocannabinoid selectivity.

Overall, the CB1 selectivity of anandamide is explained by the dominant enthalpy contributions due to ligand-protein interactions in stable binding poses. This study shed lights on potential selectivity mechanisms for endocannabinoids that would aid in the discovery of CB selective drugs.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41962866

“By situating these results within the broader landscape of pharmacological and structural evidence, we provide a cohesive mechanistic framework for endocannabinoid selectivity that can inform the rational design of CB1-selective therapeutics.”

https://www.jbc.org/article/S0021-9258(26)00304-2/fulltext

Effect of cannabinol, tetrahydrocannabivarin and cannabidiol on voluntary alcohol consumption

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“Aims: Previous studies have demonstrated that the endocannabinoid system plays a significant role in the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD), and CB1 receptor antagonists/inverse agonists show promise as a novel AUD pharmacotherapy. However, these compounds failed in clinical trials due to the severe psychiatric side effects. Non-psychoactive phytocannabinoids may have a better safety profile and could be used as an alternative approach to treat AUD. The aim of this study was to test the potential of three phytocannabinoids in reducing alcohol consumption: CB1 receptor partial agonist cannabinol (CBN), neutral antagonist tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) and negative allosteric modulator cannabidiol (CBD).

Methods: Male Wistar rats were subjected to a long-term voluntary alcohol drinking procedure that lasted for several months. Thereafter, rats were given three once daily administrations of CBN, THCV, or CBD. Their side-effect profile was examined by recording changes in water consumption, body weight and locomotor activity. Ultrasonic vocalisations were recorded in alcohol-naïve group-housed rats to monitor if treatment induced discomfort, distress, or other changes in emotional states.

Results: Our data demonstrated that all phytocannabinoids reduced voluntary alcohol consumption; however, the compounds differed in their effectiveness and side-effect profile. Treatment with CBN and THCV reduced alcohol intake and alcohol preference and had a mild sedative effect. CBD had a minor effect on alcohol consumption, did not affect alcohol preference, reduced the locomotor activity and lowered the positive emotional states of rats. None of the compounds caused discomfort or distress.

Conclusions: We conclude that CBN and THCV may have potential in treating AUD.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41947574

“Cannabis plants have long been used both medicinally and recreationally, mainly due to the psychoactive compound delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, a partial agonist of the CB1 receptor). However, the health benefits of these plants may be attributable to over a hundred of other, non-psychoactive compounds or their metabolites, collectively termed phytocannabinoids.”

“In summary, the present study demonstrated that CBN and THCV were more effective in reducing the maintenance of voluntary alcohol consumption and had a better safety profile compared to CBD. The effect of all three phytocannabinoids on alcohol consumption may be related to their action on the CB1 receptor.”

https://academic.oup.com/alcalc/article/61/3/agag019/8607733

A multifunctional conductive physiomimetic scaffold: synergy of rGO coating and cannabis-derived nanotopography for infection-resistant bone repair

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“Conventional bone grafts cannot reliably fulfill the dual requirements of rapid osseoinduction and intrinsic infection-resistance to meet clinical needs. We therefore aimed to overcome this dual challenge by fabricating a novel physiomimetic three-dimensional scaffold.

This was achieved by coating the unique nano-grooved cellulosic matrix derived from Cannabis sativa leaf trichomes with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to mimic the native osteogenic niche.

The plant-derived skeleton serves as a ready-made, topographically complex framework, while the rGO coating provides a microenvironment well suited for bone repair. Comprehensive characterization verified a measurable surface energy, hydrophilicity, roughness, and proper conductivity due to rGO coating. Moreover, in vitro examination confirmed that rGO biofunctionalization synergized with the innate nano-topography, dynamically accelerated the osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells. An upregulated expression of key bone markers, COL1A1, RUNX2, and OPN, sustained alkaline phosphatase activity, and augmented deposition of collagen and mineralized matrix exhibited the potential of the proposed approach for efficient osteal regeneration. An equally important finding was the scaffold’s inherent antibacterial property against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens.

We demonstrated that augmenting a natural cannabis-derived nanostructure with a conductive nanomaterial coating creates a multifaceted therapeutic strategy capable of promoting bone formation and potentially antibacterial effects, addressing two critical obstacles in regenerative orthopedics.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41958836

“In conclusion, the rGO-functionalized cannabis-derived scaffold offers a multifaceted therapeutic route toward bone repair, while bioinspired microenvironment is not only structurally supportive but also biologically instructive and inherently protective against microbial threats.”

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2026.1766388/full


Cannabidiol hinders lipopolysaccharide-induced neutrophils migration to the lungs through suppressing nuclear factor kappa-B signal and expression of interleukin-1 beta in macrophages

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“Background: Acute lung injury and its more severe form, acute respiratory distress syndrome, are life-threatening diseases characterized by uncontrolled pulmonary inflammation, impaired gas exchange, and high mortality rates. Effective therapeutic agents remain limited. As a non-addictive component derived from hemp seed, the anti-inflammatory activity of cannabidiol (CBD) has been suggested by multiple pathological models.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the potent anti-inflammatory effects of CBD in lipopolysaccharide-induced pulmonary inflammation and the mechanisms involved herein.

Methods: Mice were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) intranasally to construct pulmonary inflammation model while CBD was administrated intraperitoneally at 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg. The percentage of immune cell subsets and the concentration of cytokines and chemokines were assayed to evaluate the inflammatory status of the lungs. The molecular expression of whole lungs and macrophages was obtained through RNA sequencing.

Results: The number of interstitial macrophages and neutrophils in lungs responded to the progression of inflammation and the anti-inflammatory function of CBD. In line with this, the transcriptome of lung tissue upregulated innate immune cell-related features and nuclear factor kappa-B signaling which was downregulated by CBD treatment at 50 mg/kg. CBD at this dose reduced the expression of interleukin-1 beta in both interstitial and alveolar macrophages and suppressed the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 in endothelial cells. During these processes, the mediation of inflammation was potentially conducted by interstitial macrophages.

Conclusion: CBD at 50 mg/kg significantly attenuates LPS-induced pulmonary inflammation and markedly suppresses the LPS-induced elevation in the number of neutrophils and interstitial macrophages in the lung. CBD could directly inhibit the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 in pulmonary endothelial cells and indirectly inhibit it by suppressing interleukin-1 beta secretion from macrophages, thereby reducing neutrophil infiltration into the lung and alleviating lung injury. These findings uncover the molecular mechanism whereby CBD alleviates inflammation via inhibiting granulocyte trafficking to the lungs, providing novel insights into the therapeutic potential of this compound.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41935460

“Cannabidiol (CBD) is the non-addictive component in hemp seeds, known for its effects in treating constipation, reducing inflammation and pain, and providing antioxidant benefits. The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD have been well documented across diverse inflammatory disease models, with growing research interest in its therapeutic potential for pulmonary conditions”

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0944711326003570?via%3Dihub

The Therapeutic Crossroad Between Mitochondria and Cannabidiol: A Mini-Review

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“Cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive compound originating from Cannabis sativa L., with a promising therapeutic profile that influences numerous cellular processes. A major area of interest is its impact on mitochondria, organelles essential for cellular metabolism, ATP production, calcium homeostasis, and stress response.

This article explores the available data on contribution of CBD effect on mitochondria to its therapeutic potential in treatment of various pathologies: cancer, cardiovascular, lung, neurological, gastrointestinal and liver disease, and muscle pathologies.

Regarding cancer, the cytotoxic effects of cannabidiol on glioma, leukaemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, prostate, gastric, and breast cancer are analysed. In the case of cardiomyopathies and heart failure, cannabidiol plays an important role in reducing oxidative stress and promoting mitochondrial biogenesis. In lung diseases, cannabidiol reduces the expression of mitochondrial fission genes and increases the expression of fusion genes.

When it comes to neurological pathologies, cannabidiol protects neurons and exhibits a strong antioxidant effect, while in gastrointestinal and liver diseases, cannabidiol stabilises mitochondrial membrane potential, increases ATP production, and reduces oxidative stress. In muscle affections, cannabidiol improves mitochondrial function by inhibiting excessive mitophagy. Although modern formulations may improve the low bioavailability of CBD, its potential non-selective cytotoxicity toward non-malignant cells remains an important concern that warrants further investigation.

Nevertheless, cannabidiol possesses a remarkable therapeutic potential, and its effects on mitochondria open new perspectives in the treatment of numerous diseases.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41892270

“In conclusion, CBD represents a molecule with remarkable therapeutic potential, and its targeting to mitochondria opens new perspectives in the treatment of chronic and degenerative diseases.”

https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/15/6/510

Efficacy of Cannabidiol in Reducing Virulence of Listeria monocytogenes

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“Listeria monocytogenes (LM) is a major foodborne pathogen causing illnesses ranging from gastroenteritis to severe systemic infections. The key virulence factors include bacterial motility, hemolysin and lecithinase production, and invasion of host tissues.

This study investigated the anti-virulence effects of cannabidiol (CBD), the main non-psychoactive compound in Cannabis sativa, against LM.

The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC, 2289 μM; 719.8 µg/mL) and sub-inhibitory concentration (SIC, 11.92 μM; 3.75 µg/mL) of CBD were determined for LM strains Scott A and ATCC 19115. Cultures were treated with SIC, 6× SIC, 1/4× MIC, and MIC to assess effects on motility, hemolysin and lecithinase production, and adhesion and invasion of human intestinal (Caco-2) and brain endothelial (HBMEC) cells, alongside virulence gene expression by RT-qPCR. Cannabidiol’s efficacy was also determined using a Galleria mellonella larval infection model at SIC and 6× SIC.

Cannabidiol at 6× SIC significantly reduced motility, toxin production, and host cell adhesion and invasion (p < 0.05). RT-qPCR revealed downregulation of key virulence genes, including prfA, hly, plcA, plcB, iap, motA, motB, actA, inlA, and inlB. In vivo, CBD enhanced larval survival in a dose-dependent manner and cytotoxicity was observed at concentrations above 33.75 µg/mL.

These results indicate that CBD, at non-bactericidal levels, effectively suppresses multiple virulence mechanisms in LM, highlighting its potential as a novel anti-virulence agent for food safety and therapeutic applications.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41898547

“Cannabidiol has been reported to exert antibacterial activity through multiple, primarily membrane-associated mechanisms.”

“Collectively, these findings suggest that CBD holds promise as a prophylactic or therapeutic agent, or as an adjunct to conventional antibiotics, in mitigating listeriosis.”

https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/6/2682