“The black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens, has gained increasing attention as a sustainable protein source for animal feed. This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with hemp seed oil (HSO) at 0.5-6% concentrations on the growth performance and nutritional composition of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL).

Larval development, survival rate, body weight, and adult longevity were evaluated under controlled conditions. In addition, chemical characterization of HSO was performed, and the proximate composition, mineral content, and amino acid profile of dried larvae were analyzed.

The results indicated that HSO supplementation had no statistically significant effect on developmental time, survival rate, biomass accumulation, or adult lifespan compared to the control. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) profiling of HSO revealed a wide range of bioactive compounds, including unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), phytosterols, cannabinoids, and tocopherols. The BSFL showed high levels of fat and energy, with essential amino acids and minerals present in favorable concentrations for feed applications. The HSO improves the protein levels at the 0.5-1.0% concentration, with negative correlations at higher concentrations.

The findings suggest that HSO can be integrated into BSFL diets without adverse effects on growth performance, while potentially enhancing the functional value of the larvae. This supports the feasibility of incorporating hemp by-products into insect-rearing systems to promote circular and value-added feed production.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41302827

“Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) are being studied as a new source of protein for animals, as they can turn food waste into valuable nutrients. This study explores whether adding hemp seed oil (HSO) to the BSFL diet causes no harm to the larvae and no negative impact on their growth or survival. Results of this study suggest that dietary enrichment with HSO increases the valuable nutrient content of the BSFL diet due to high levels of essential nutrients in both of them. This approach benefits both the environment and animal farming by reducing waste and producing high-quality insect-based animal feed.”

https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/11/1081

“The growing consumer demand for plant-based, protein- and fiber-enriched foods has encouraged the incorporation of novel functional ingredients into bakery products.

Hemp flour (HF), obtained from cold-pressed hemp seeds, represents a sustainable ingredient rich in proteins, dietary fibers, lipids, and bioactive compounds, making it suitable for nutritional fortification.

This study investigated the impact of HF addition (5-40%) on the quality of muffins prepared with wheat flour (WF) and whole wheat flour (WWF).

An initial hedonic sensory evaluation identified 5-20% HF as the most acceptable substitution range, which was then subjected to detailed physicochemical, sensory, textural, colorimetric, and microbiological analyses.

Incorporation of HF significantly increased protein (up to +44%), fiber (up to +172%), and ash (up to +76%) contents, while decreasing moisture (-39%). Both WF and WWF muffins darkened with HF incorporation, with a greater lightness reduction in WF. Texture changes (increased firmness and gumminess) were more pronounced in WF muffins. Sensory analysis revealed that WF muffins were best accepted at 10-15% HF, whereas WWF muffins maintained good acceptability up to 20% HF, indicating better integration of HF in the whole grain matrix. All samples complied with microbiological safety requirements.

Overall, the optimal substitution level was 10-15% HF in WF muffins and 20% HF in WWF muffins, demonstrating that HF can enhance the nutritional profile of muffins while maintaining acceptable technological and sensory properties in a matrix-dependent manner.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41154114

“In conclusion, HF offers clear advantages as a sustainable, plant-based ingredient for functional food development. It improves the protein, fiber, and mineral content of muffins, while the type of base flour plays a decisive role in determining texture, sensory quality, and overall acceptability. Future research should focus on optimizing formulations to achieve a balance between nutritional enhancement and sensory appeal, with particular attention paid to moisture retention and improving the palatability of higher HF levels in WF-based products.”

https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/20/3578

“This study is aimed at evaluating the effects of dietary Cannabis sativa L. leaf supplementation on superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels and the prevention of liver fluke (Opisthorchis viverrini) metacercaria infection in Barbonymus gonionotus.

The experiment included five treatment groups, with varying concentrations of C. sativa leaves (0.0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%) in the experimental feed. Six hundred parasite-free B. gonionotus (50 days old) were infected with 50 cercariae each. After 24 h, they were fed the experimental feed for 0 (control group), 7, 14, or 21 days. The infection rate, intensity of O. viverrini metacercaria, survival rates, immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels, lysozyme activity, and SOD levels in B. gonionotus were investigated.

The results showed that cannabis leaves effectively prevented O. viverrini infection.

Fish fed with higher doses of cannabis leaf diets had a decreased infection rate and intensity of O. viverrini metacercariae and higher survival rates. Conversely, there was an increase in SOD, lysozyme activity, and IgM levels. Moreover, after the fish were fed 2.0% cannabis leaves for 14 and 21 days, no O. viverrini metacercariae were degenerated. The highest SOD levels were exhibited by fish fed 2.0% cannabis leaves for 14 days (1497.96 U/g FW), and the metacercariae were inactive and degenerated.

In summary, dietary supplementation of cannabis leaves can be used as a preventive measure against liver fluke infection in B. gonionotus.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41262377

“Opisthorchiasis is a disease caused by trematode infection in fish, specifically members of the Opisthorchiidae family, including Opisthorchis viverrini, Opisthorchis felineus, and Clonorchis sinensis.”

“Cannabis, Cannabis sativa L., possesses a rich historical background of human utilization, with indications of its use dating back thousands of years. “

“The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of cannabis leaves on liver fluke infection and the immune response in fish.”

“This study concludes that supplementation of cannabis leaves at 2.0% in the feed can prevent infection by metacercariae of the liver fluke in silver barb fish on Days 14 and 21. The supplementation of cannabis leaves was effective in preventing infection, reducing infection intensity, decreasing the survival rate of metacercariae, and enhancing the immune response in fish. The metacercaria encysted within fibrous tissue was densely surrounded by white blood cells, leading to their destruction and inhibiting the growth of the liver fluke parasite. Consequently, consumers can safely consume fish devoid of liver fluke parasites and fish meat free from any residual contaminants.”

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/japr/6233585

(“-)-Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid, has been suggested to provide protective effects in neuronal systems. This work investigates its neuroprotective effect against rotenone, a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor that causes neuronal toxicity, using primary hippocampal neurons.

Rotenone treatment reduces neuronal viability with marked neurite degeneration in a concentration-dependent manner (LC₅₀ = 189.1 nM). Administration of 2.5 µM CBD significantly increases viability to 69.9%, compared with 45.6% observed under 200 nM rotenone treatment.

Neuronal morphology is preserved under both CBD pre-treatment and co-treatment conditions, with confocal analyses further confirming the maintenance of axonal branching and overall structural integrity. Antagonist experiments reveal that TRPV1 inhibition markedly reduces the protective effect of CBD, whereas blockade of 5-HT_1AR has only a minor influence.

These findings demonstrate that CBD protects primary hippocampal neurons from rotenone-induced toxicity, with TRPV1 playing a central role in the mechanism.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41261085

“In summary, this study demonstrates that CBD effectively protects primary hippocampal neurons from rotenone-induced toxicity by maintaining neuronal viability and preserving neurite morphology. Both pre-treatment and co-treatment with CBD effectively attenuated rotenone-induced cell death, and morphological analyses confirmed the preservation of axonal branching and neuronal structure.

Consistent with our findings, several in vivo studies have reported that cannabis-derived phytocannabinoids attenuate oxidative stress and neuronal degeneration induced by rotenone administration in animal models. These in vivo observations reinforce the neuroprotective potential of CBD and further support our in vitro findings at the cellular level.”

https://aces.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/asia.202500946