Cannabis sativa contains bioactive compounds far beyond cannabinoids, including stilbenes with promising anti-inflammatory activity. In this study, researchers used a cell-free biosynthesis system to produce cannabistilbene I and found that it acted on two distinct inflammatory pathways, giving the compound a dual mechanism of action. The findings highlight cannabistilbene I as a promising cannabis-derived anti-inflammatory molecule while also demonstrating a scalable biotechnology approach for producing rare plant compounds for future therapeutic development.

“Despite the potential of Cannabis bibenzyls to remedy acute and chronic inflammation, their relative scarcity, in planta, has hindered applications for them in mainstream therapeutic efforts.

Here, we describe the biocatalytic synthesis of cannabistilbene I (1), a prototypical Cannabis bibenzyl, and demonstrate its utility as an anti-inflammatory agent.

A Cannabis O-methyltransferase (CsOMT1) was first identified that catalyzes the 3-hydroxymethylation of dihydroresveratrol (2) to produce pinobistilbene (3). Structural characterization of CsOMT1 revealed that the substrate-binding pocket requires the ethyl bridge on 2 to twist with a dihedral angle of -110°, thereby explaining why less flexible aromatics such as stilbenes serve as poor enzymatic substrates.

Next, a prenyltransferase (CloQ) from the Gram-positive bacterium Streptomyces was shown to prenylate the 3′-position of the B-ring on 3 into 1. Using these two enzymes, a cell-free method was then developed to synthesize 1 and the compound was shown to inhibit both microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase-1 and 5-lipoxygenase enzyme activity, in vitro, more effectively than the leading commercially available inhibitors.

Together, these results establish a platform for producing cannabistilbene I (1) that circumvents the challenges of traditional “chemical synthesis”, and which is amenable to produce similar value-added compounds that are not easily accessible from nature.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42139234

“The widespread use of Cannabis sativa as a natural product therapeutic has been well documented since time immemorial.”

“In this study, we hereby add cannabistilbene I (1) to this list of prenylated aromatics from C. sativa that act as “dual-acting inhibitors” of the pro-inflammatory pathway. Strikingly, in our in vitro assays, cannabistilbene I (1) was ∼3× and ∼20× more potent than the leading commercially available inhibitors of mPGES-1 and 5-LOX, respectively.”

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.6c00318

Hemp seeds are already valued as a nutrient-dense food, and processing methods such as hulling and germination can further influence their nutritional and functional properties. In this study, researchers compared whole, hulled, and germinated Cannabis sativa seeds and found meaningful differences in protein, fatty acids, minerals, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity. Germination in particular enhanced several bioactive and functional characteristics, while hulled seeds offered advantages in digestibility and nutrient concentration. The findings highlight hemp seeds as a versatile functional food with strong potential for nutrition, health-focused products, and food innovation.

“Hemp seeds (Cannabis sativa L.) have received considerable attention due to their nutrient and phytochemical content. However, while the nutritional and functional profile of whole hemp seeds has been adequately described in the literature, these aspects have not been investigated for hulled seeds, especially germinated hemp seeds.

Therefore, the aim of this work was to explore the nutritional and functional profile of hulled seeds (DH) and germinated seeds (GH), compared to whole hemp seeds (WH), to elucidate their potential to be considered as viable alternatives for the food industry and animal feed.

The proximal composition, concentration of antinutritional compounds, amino acid profile (AA), fatty acid profile (FA), tocopherol and phenolic content, and antioxidant activity were determined. Protein quality was assessed after in vitro digestibility was determined, and lipid quality indices were calculated.

Compared to WH, hulled seeds had a higher content of crude protein (33.78% vs. 25.14%), crude fat (48.13% vs. 31.46%) and metabolizable energy (23.43 MJ kg-1 vs. 13.75 MJ kg-1), as well as the best in vitro protein digestibility (86.73% vs. 78.34%), which also ensured the best IVPDCAAS (in vitro protein digestibility corrected amino acid score) value.

Seed germination resulted in a significant increase in protein, fiber and minerals, as well as in the content of antioxidant compounds, responsible for the higher antioxidant activity compared to WH and DH.

In conclusion, hulling or germination improves the nutritional and functional profile of hemp seeds, confirming their potential for use in various emerging food matrices or in animal feed.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42099769

“In the context of the growing interest in plant-based protein diets, our results suggest that hulled or germinated hemp seeds have the potential to serve as sustainable sources of protein and bioactive compounds (omega-3 and antioxidants).”

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2026.1825902/full

Cannabidiol is showing antiviral activity beyond human pathogens. In this study, CBD inhibited infectious bronchitis virus in chickens in both laboratory and live-animal models, reducing viral activity and demonstrating protective effects against infection. The findings suggest that CBD may have practical antiviral potential in poultry health and broaden the evidence that cannabinoids can act directly against viral disease. This study also highlights a possible veterinary and agricultural application for cannabidiol in managing economically important infections.

“Avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), a gamma coronavirus, remains the predominant pathogen affecting poultry worldwide, posing a significant threat to the poultry industry.

Cannabidiol (CBD), the primary non-psychoactive constituent of Cannabis sativa, has demonstrated diverse pharmacological properties.

This study investigated the inhibitory effects of CBD against IBV infection both in vitro and in vivo. Chicken embryo kidney (CEK) cells infected with IBV were treated with CBD at various concentrations (2–20 µM).

Our results demonstrated that CBD significantly suppressed IBV replication in a dose-dependent manner without affecting cell viability. Furthermore, in SPF chickens, CBD treatment markedly alleviated clinical symptoms, reduced tracheal and renal histopathological lesions, and significantly decreased viral loads in tissues. Transcriptomic analysis of tracheal tissue suggested that CBD may inhibit IBV infection through modulation of immune-related signaling pathways, particularly the JAK-STAT pathway and interferon-stimulated gene expression.

These findings indicate that CBD represents a promising candidate for therapeutic intervention against IBV infection.”

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00203-026-04886-7

Cannabidiol is emerging as a promising agent for soft-tissue repair because it can influence several biological processes involved in wound healing at once. This review examines evidence that CBD can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, support fibroblast activity and tissue remodeling, and promote conditions favorable for wound closure and regeneration. It also highlights advanced delivery systems designed to improve CBD stability, penetration, and localized release at injured tissue. The findings support CBD as a versatile candidate for next-generation wound-care therapies that combine anti-inflammatory activity with regenerative support.

“This review explores the molecular and cellular pathways of soft tissue wound healing and the potential therapeutic use of the non-psychotropic cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD), integrating findings from in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies as well as completed and ongoing clinical trials.

It provides a comprehensive summary of the next steps in new CBD-based product development by analyzing current trends in dosage optimization, treatment guidance, delivery systems, ranging from liposomes, microemulsions to hydrogels. Additionally, the review examines clinical trials related to CBD formulations, delivery routes, and participant outcomes, offering a deeper understanding of the mechanisms guiding the activity beyond binding to cannabinoid 1 (CB1) and CB2 receptors. Furthermore, it highlights challenges and future perspectives in CBD formulation studies, presenting both currently studied approaches and emerging possibilities for innovation.

Therapeutic potential of CBD has proved itself in the recent years and only regulatory issues and clarity in treatment and delivery routes will limit its widespread use in soft tissue healing.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42039297

“The therapeutic properties of Cannabis sativa have been recognized for over five millennia, with it use as a medical substance dating back to the Christian era in Central and Northeast Asia, particularly in India. However, despite its potential, this plant has undergone limited scientific exploration of its chemical and biological properties, and its medical use has remained restricted, particularly following its classification as a substance with no medical value under the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.”

“The historical use of cannabinoids in ancient medicine, coupled with modern preclinical investigations into their various components, unveils a broad spectrum of its potential clinical applications for soft tissue regeneration.”

“The unique therapeutic properties of CBD hold great promise for the treatment of different diseases and disorders, including alleviating pain associated with various soft tissue injuries or conditions, fibrosis, inflammation, and addressing muscle disorders.”

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211383525006744?via%3Dihub