Researchers used Cannabis sativa (industrial hemp) extracts to produce gold and silver nanoparticles through a rapid, economical “green synthesis” process. Hemp contains biologically active compounds including cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds, some of which may help form and stabilize nanoparticles.

The hemp-derived silver nanoparticles showed antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, including inhibition of biofilm formation at concentrations below those needed to completely stop bacterial growth.

The authors concluded that C. sativa extracts can be effectively used for green nanoparticle synthesis and that some of these nanoparticles may have value against biofilm formation. They also emphasized that “the therapeutic value of this plant is not negligible.”

“Cannabis sativa (hemp) is a source of various biologically active compounds, for instance, cannabinoids, terpenes and phenolic compounds, which exhibit antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. With the purpose of expanding the auxiliary application of C. sativa in the field of bio-nanotechnology, we explored the plant for green and efficient synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs).

The nanoparticles were synthesized by utilizing an aqueous extract of C. sativa stem separated into two different fractions (cortex and core [xylem part]) without any additional reducing, stabilizing and capping agents. In the synthesis of AuNPs using the cortex enriched in bast fibers, fiber-AuNPs (F-AuNPs) were achieved. When using the core part of the stem, which is enriched with phenolic compounds such as alkaloids and cannabinoids, core-AuNPs (C-AuNPs) and core-AgNPs (C-AgNPs) were formed. Synthesized nanoparticles were character-ized by UV–visible analysis, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight. In addition, the stable nature of nanoparticles has been shown by thermogravimetric analysis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Finally, the AgNPs were explored for the inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli biofilms.

Conclusion

The synthesized nanoparticles were crystalline with an average diameter between 12 and 18 nm for F-AuNPs and C-AuNPs and in the range of 20–40 nm for C-AgNPs. ICP-MS analysis revealed concentrations of synthesized nanoparticles as 0.7, 4.5 and 3.6 mg/mL for F-AuNPs, C-AuNPs and C-AgNPs, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed the presence of flavonoids, cannabinoids, terpenes and phenols on the nanoparticle surface, which could be responsible for reducing the salts to nanoparticles and further stabilizing them. In addition, the stable nature of synthesized nanoparticles has been shown by thermogravimetric analysis and ICP-MS. Finally, the AgNPs were explored for the inhibition of P. aeruginosa and E. coli biofilms. The nanoparticles exhibited minimum inhibitory concentration values of 6.25 and 5 µg/mL and minimum bactericidal concentration values of 12.5 and 25 µg/mL against P. aeruginosa and E. coli, respectively.”

“This study demonstrated the applicability of C. sativa extracts for rapid and economical green synthesis of nanoparticles, some of which can be effectively used against biofilm formations.

The developed methodology allowed to produce several types of nanoparticles: F-AuNPs, at 1:1 ratio of plant extract:water, 100°C, 4 mM gold salt in 3 min; C-AuNPs, at 1:1 ratio of plant extract:water, 90°C, 2 mM salt in 2.5 min; C-AgNPs, with complete extract, 90°C, 5 mM silver salt in 8 min. C-AgNPs were applied for effective inhibition and disruption of P. aeruginosa and E. coli biofilms. The question generating nanoparticles that would possess the desired morphology with well-defined size and shape is still open, and further study is required to develop a technology in which nanoparticles of specific size and shape can be obtained by the use of medicinal and industrially important C. sativa plants.”

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6016601

Researchers developed nanostructured lipid carriers designed to help cannabidiol (CBD) penetrate the nasal mucus and cross nasal epithelial cells, potentially improving nose-to-brain drug delivery. In laboratory experiments using rat nasal mucosal epithelial cells, the carriers showed little interaction with mucin, promoted mucus penetration, were efficiently taken up by cells, and improved CBD transport across the cell layer. The findings support mucus-penetrating lipid nanoparticles as a promising delivery platform for getting CBD across the nasal mucus-mucosal barrier and potentially toward the brain.

“Effective nose-to-brain delivery is limited by the mucus-mucosal barrier, which severely hinders drug transport after nasal administration. Although nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) offer promising solutions by improving their retention duration in the mucosal layer or promoting mucosal permeation and intracellular uptake, the nanoparticle-mucus interactions, epithelial uptake, and mechanisms supporting transcellular transport in the nasal cavity remain poorly learned.

This study was developed to assess the interactions between mucin and NLCs, the absorption and transport capabilities of Cannabidiol (CBD) nanostructured lipid carriers (CBD-NLCs) in rat nasal mucosal epithelial (RNME) cells.

Molecular docking (MD) was used to evaluate the interactions between the human mucin protein MUC5AC (hMUC5AC) and some main components of CBD-NLCs. In vitro experiments were conducted to assess the mucus penetration of CBD-NLCs. Cellular uptake, localization, and transport mechanisms of coumarin-6-labeled NLCs (C6-NLCs) in RNME cells were examined by confocal laser scanning microscopy, endocytosis inhibition assays, and transcellular transport assays.

Our results show that there were no interactions between the main components of NLCs and hMUC5AC according to MD simulations. In vitro experiments, NLCs promoted mucus penetration and had little interaction with mucin. Cellular studies confirmed cytoplasmic (non-nuclear) localization of C6-NLCs in RNME cells, and transport assays showed that the clathrin-mediated endocytic route was a predominant pathway for their internalization. When across the RNME cell monolayer, NLCs had a great benefit on CBD transportation across monolayers of RNME cells.

Our results clarify the mechanism by which NLCs enhance mucosal penetration and facilitate cellular trafficking in RNME cells. Their little interaction with mucin, combined with efficient cellular uptake and transcellular transport, supports the potential of NLCs as a promising nanoplatform for nose-to-brain drug delivery.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42698223/

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jbm.a.70133

Cold-pressed industrial hemp seed oil may have significant potential for skin regeneration and wound healing, according to a new laboratory study. Researchers found that the oil, naturally rich in essential fatty acids and beta-sitosterol, significantly accelerated wound closure and increased the proliferation of normal human dermal fibroblast cells by 72%. Although microencapsulation improved the oil’s stability against oxidation, it also reduced its biological activity, suggesting that the delivery system will need further optimization for topical use.

“Cold-pressed industrial hemp seed oil (CPCSSO) with a fully characterized physicochemical profile; including fatty acids, sterols and quality indices is a natural regenerative agent due to its high content of essential fatty acids (EFA) and its dominant beta-sitosterol fraction (62.10 %). However, its susceptibility to oxidation (Iodine Value: 157) limits its effectiveness when applied topically.

To address this issue, this study is aimed to stabilize CPCSSO through an innovative complex coacervation system using a gelatin/gum Arabic matrix crosslinked with natural transglutaminase (Tgase) and tannic acid (TA).

Physicochemical analyses confirmed that CPCSSO retained excellent quality criteria, including low free fatty acid and peroxide values. In vitro biological tests showed that unencapsulated CPCSSO at concentrations as low as 0.12 mg/mL significantly accelerated wound healing achieving highly statistically significant results (48 hours) and increased proliferation of normal human dermal fibroblast cells by 72 %.

This demonstrates the oil’s substantial potential for skin regeneration, although microencapsulation improved the stability of CPCSSO, the biological activity of the encapsulated CPCSSO decreased.

The current findings highlight the effectiveness of CPCSSO in wound healing and suggest that further optimization is necessary for the TGase-TA crosslinking system to serve as a reliable method for the topical delivery of natural bioactive compounds.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42686591

https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jos/75/9/75_jos.ess26035/_article

A new animal study suggests that full-spectrum CBD-rich oil may help protect the brain from some of the neurological effects associated with Maple Syrup Urine Disease. In rats, CBD treatment reduced inflammation and oxidative stress, improved cholinergic function, and at the lower dose improved short-term memory.

The researchers concluded that full-spectrum CBD-rich oil shows therapeutic potential for MSUD, although more research is needed to determine the best dose and treatment duration.

“Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) is caused by a genetic mutation in the branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex, resulting to accumulation of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) that affect the central nervous system and cause neurochemical alterations and behavioral changes.

In this line, full-spectrum cannabidiol (CBD)-rich oil has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effects of two doses of the compound full-spectrum CBD-rich oil in a BCAA-induced MSUD rat model, against behavioral, cholinergic, inflammatory, and oxidative stress parameters.

For this, animals were divided into six groups: control group, CBD 3.5 mg/kg group, CBD 7.5 mg/kg group, BCAA group, BCAA + CBD 3.5 mg/kg group, and BCAA + CBD 7.5 mg/kg group. The treatment was administered over 21 days; after that, the animals were subjected to open-field and object recognition tests. Next, we extracted the cerebral cortex to analyze cholinergic function, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

The results show that the open-field test revealed no differences in crossings and rearings across all groups. In object recognition test, control and CBD 3.5 groups showed improved short- and long-term memory compared to training. The CBD 7.5 and BCAA + CBD 3.5 groups showed improvement only in short-term memory. BCAA control and BCAA + 7.5 did not present differences.

In the cholinergic system, BCAA control showed decreased choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, which was reversed by CBD treatment at both doses. The BCAA + CBD 7.5 shows increased ChAT activity compared to control group. While acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was reduced in the CBD 7.5 groups and increased in the BCAA control group, both CBDs reversed this increase in BCAA control group.

Inflammatory cytokines show increased interleukin-1β in BCAA control group, and the CBD treatment decreases its levels compared to BCAA and saline control groups. Interleukin-6 increases in BCAA control group, and CBD 3.5 reverses it. Tumoral necrosis factor-alpha was reduced in BCAA + CBD 3.5 and BCAA + CBD 7.5 compared to control and BCAA control groups.

Further, under oxidative stress, BCAA control increases 2,7-dichlorofluorescein oxidation and thiobarbituric acid levels, which were reversed by CBD treatment. Sulfhydryl content was decreased in CBD 7.5, BCAA control group, BCAA + CBD 3.5, and BCAA + CBD 7.5 compared to control group. Superoxide dismutase activity increased across all groups, whereas catalase activity decreased in the BCAA control group; treatment with CBD 7.5 reversed this reduction.

Overall, we conclude that full-spectrum CBD-rich oil shows therapeutic potential for MSUD, although optimal dosing and treatment duration require further investigation.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42690466

“Cannabis-based products have emerged as a new class of drugs with potential therapeutic effects across a broad range of neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders.”

“In summary, full-spectrum CBD-rich oil produced significant neurochemical benefits in neonatal MSUD model, including modulation of cholinergic enzymes, reduction of oxidative stress, and attenuation of inflammatory cytokines.”

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11011-026-01958-x

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