Hemp is increasingly being studied not just as a source of plant protein, but as a source of biologically active compounds that may influence muscle health. In this new study, researchers found that hemp seed protein hydrolysates helped protect against muscle atrophy in both cell and animal models, improving grip strength and muscle mass while also influencing pathways involved in protein synthesis, degradation, inflammation, and apoptosis.

The researchers also identified three bioactive peptides—AERGF, VL, and GLK—that showed particularly strong anti-atrophy effects, with evidence pointing to AMPK/FoxO3a signaling as an important part of their activity. Notably, the hemp protein hydrolysates produced stronger effects than whey protein in the mouse model, highlighting hemp seed as a potentially valuable source of functional proteins and bioactive peptides for future muscle-health research.

“We recently demonstrated that hemp seed protein hydrolysates (HPH), produced through enzymatic hydrolysis, protect against muscle atrophy in both in vitro and in vivo models.

This study aimed to optimize the HPH production method and elucidate its mechanism of action in preventing muscle atrophy, including the identification of bioactive peptides within HPH.

To optimize HPH production, we compared the degree of protein hydrolysis using alcalase and flavourzyme, both individually and in combination. Ultimately, we produced HPH by treating it with 2% flavourzyme for 2 h.

Our results showed that HPH increased cell viability and normalized reactive oxygen species levels in H₂O₂-treated C2C12 myoblasts. In a mouse model of muscle atrophy induced by dexamethasone (DEX), HPH improved grip strength and increased muscle mass, demonstrating effects stronger than those of whey protein. Immunoblotting analysis indicated that HPH activates protein synthesis pathways while inhibiting protein degradation, apoptosis, and the production of inflammatory cytokines in skeletal muscle. Additionally, we analyzed the peptide composition of HPH and investigated the anti-atrophic effects of specific peptides in C2C12 myotubes.

Among fourteen peptide candidates, peptides AERGF, VL, and GLK showed the most significant effects on enhancing myotube diameter and reducing the expression of ubiquitin ligases and cleaved PARP in DEX-treated C2C12 myotubes. These peptides also increased the phosphorylation of AMPK and FoxO3a, which were reduced by DEX. Notably, their protective effects against myotube atrophy diminished when the cells were co-treated with an AMPK inhibitor.

These findings demonstrate that HPH and its bioactive peptides effectively mitigate DEX-induced muscle atrophy by positively regulating muscle protein synthesis and degradation pathways.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42680322

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0963996926017126?via%3Dihub

Industrial hemp continues to demonstrate value far beyond traditional agricultural uses. In this study, researchers combined hemp seed oil with a trimetallic nanoparticle catalyst and process optimization technology to produce biodiesel at a 92% yield, with fuel characteristics comparable to established ASTM standards—highlighting Cannabis sativa as a potential renewable feedstock for advanced biofuel production.

“Biodiesel synthesis by utilizing nonedible species of oil-bearing seeds is a viable, eco-friendly, and pragmatic approach to combating fossil fuel shortages and environmental pollution.

Therefore, in the present research work, hemp oil was extracted in good yield (29.9%) utilizing industrial hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.) seeds cultivated in a greenhouse at PCSIR-Lahore, Pakistan, using hydroponic technology (Crop 2022).

For maximum biodiesel production, a ternary metal (MgO-ZnO-BaO NPs) nanocatalyst was designed and thoroughly characterized by PXRD, SEM, EDX, and FTIR analysis. Afterward, the nanocatalyst-assisted transesterification of hemp oil was carried out. The transesterification reaction of hemp oil was optimized by response surface methodology based on central composite design (CCD-RSM). A quadratic polynomial equation was employed to predict the optimal yields, while analysis of variance (ANOVA) identified the statistically significant factors influencing the process.

The maximum yield of biodiesel (92%) was obtained by adjusting the methanol to hemp oil molar ratio (6:1), temperature at 65°C, MgO-ZnO-BaO NPs dosage of 2.5 g, and a reaction time of 3 h with a constant stirring rate of 750 rpm. The hemp-oil-based biodiesel was characterized by FTIR and GC-MS analysis. Fuel characteristics of biodiesel were determined according to ASTM D 6751, which were comparable to literature and ASTM standards.

The findings of this comprehensive study proved the credibility of hemp seed oil as a feasible nonfood, nonconventional feedstock for producing high-quality biodiesel.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40739776

https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jemt.70051