Biochemical aspects of seeds from Cannabis sativa L. plants grown in a mountain environment

Degeneration of oil bodies by rough endoplasmic reticulum -associated protein during seed germination in Cannabis sativa

Oil bodies serve as a vital energy source of embryos during germination and contribute to sustaining the initial growth of seedlings until photosynthesis initiation. Despite high stability in chemical properties, how oil bodies break down and go into the degradation process during germination is still unknown. This study provides a morphological understanding of the mobilization of stored compounds in the seed germination of Cannabis. The achenes of fibrous hemp cultivar (Cannabis sativa cv. 'Chungsam') were examined in this study using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Oil bodies in Cannabis seeds appeared spherical and sporadically distributed in the cotyledonary cells. Protein bodies contained electron-dense globoid and heterogeneous protein matrices. During seed germination, rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) and high electron-dense substances were present adjacent to the oil bodies. The border of the oil bodies became a dense cluster region and appeared as a sinuous outline. Later, irregular hyaline areas were distributed throughout oil bodies, showing the destabilized emulsification of oil bodies. Finally, the oil bodies lost their morphology and fused with each other. The storage proteins were concentrated in the centre of the protein body as a dense homogenous circular mass surrounded by a light heterogeneous area. Some storage proteins are considered emulsifying agents on the surface region of oil bodies, enabling them to remain stable and distinct within and outside cotyledon cells. At the early germination stage, rER appeared and dense substances aggregated adjacent to the oil bodies. Certain proteins were synthesized within the rER and then translocated into the oil bodies by crossing the half membrane of oil bodies. Our data suggest that rER-associated proteins function as enzymes to lyse the emulsifying proteins, thereby weakening the emulsifying agent on the surface of the oil bodies. This process plays a key role in the degeneration of oil bodies and induces coalescence during seed germination.

Protein Mass Fingerprinting and Antioxidant Power of Hemp Seeds in Relation to Plant Cultivar and Environment

Cannabis sativa (hemp) seeds are considered a functional food for their favorable contents of essential fatty acids, proteins and antioxidants. Beyond phenolics and carotenoids, the bioactivity of proteins has recently been investigated. However, plant genotype and environmental conditions can affect quantity and quality of macronutrients and phytochemicals in seeds, influencing their nutraceutical properties. In this study, the effects of plant variety and seed origin on the protein profile and antioxidant activity of hemp seeds were evaluated. Seeds from two cultivars, Secuieni Jubileu and Finola, were harvested from a mountain field located in Italy and compared with reference seeds used for sowing. Albumin and globulin extracts were obtained using the Osborne method and their antioxidant power was assayed (DPPH and ABTS methods). A matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry method was developed for protein fingerprinting analysis. Albumins from seeds of the mountain site showed higher radical scavenging activity and compounds of lower molecular weight than reference seeds, suggesting a role of proteins in the observed bioactivity. The MALDI-TOF method discriminated samples according to origin and variety, highlighting changes in the protein profile and identifying signals which could be used as markers of hemp cultivars.

Multifaceted Analysis of the Use of Catalytic Additives for Combustion with Hemp Pellets in a Low-Power Boiler

This paper presents the results of a multifaceted analysis of the application of catalytic additives to hemp pellets’ combustion in a low-power boiler. The research concerns the effects of five catalytic additives applied inside the boiler’s combustion chamber—based on TiO2, MnO2, Cu(NO3)2 × 3H2O, H2PtCl6 solution, and 99.5% pure urea solution—on the quality of hemp pellets’ combustion process. For this purpose, technical and elemental analyses of the used fuel were performed. The chemical composition of exhaust gases (NOx, CO, SO2, and PM content) was also examined using an exhaust gas analyzer and a dust meter. The highest reductions in emissions of individual pollutants were for CO (−113%; combustion with Ad3), NOx (−66%; combustion with Ad 4), SO2 (−48%; combustion with Ad3), and PM (−78%; combustion with Ad1). The study also determined the amount of avoided costs due to the use of catalytic additives, as well as the annual prevented CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. Due to rising fuel and energy prices, this study could be helpful for biomass boiler owners who would like to burn locally available raw materials and increase the combustion process’ efficiency.

Metabolomics Analysis Revealed the Characteristic Metabolites of Hemp Seeds Varieties and Metabolites Responsible for Antioxidant Properties

Hemp seeds are rich in metabolites such as protein, lipids and flavonoids, which are beneficial to health and can be used as a nutritional supplement. Few studies have focused on the metabolites of different hemp seed varieties. In the current study, using widely targeted metabolomics based on UHPLC-QQQ-MS/MS, we compared the metabolomes of seeds from seven hemp varieties with different uses. A total of 1,001 metabolites, including 201 flavonoids, 86 alkaloids, and 149 phenolic acids, were identified. Flavonoids, organic acids, alkaloids, lipids, and fatty acids with high nutritional value are important to investigate the differences between hemp accessions. By using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), six modules of closely related metabolites were identified. And, we identified the metabolite characteristics and hub metabolites of each variety. Then, we experimentally determined antioxidant activity of seven varieties and demonstrated that alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenes, and free fatty acids are responsible for the antioxidant activity of hemp seeds. Our research provides useful information for further investigation of the chemical composition of hemp seeds.

What You Extract Is What You Get: Different Methods of Protein Extraction from Hemp Seeds

Cannabis sativa L. seeds are rich in essential polyunsaturated fatty acids and highly digestible proteins, with a good nutritional value. Proteomics studies on hempseed reported so far have mainly been conducted on processed seeds and, to our knowledge, no optimization of protein extraction from hemp seeds has been performed. This study investigates the SDS-PAGE profile of hempseed proteins comparing different methods of extraction, (Osborne sequential extraction, TCA/acetone, MTBE/methanol, direct protein solubilization of defatted hempseed flour), two conditions to keep low temperature during seed grinding (liquid nitrogen or ice) and two solubilization buffers (urea-based or Laemmli buffer). Among the tested conditions, the combination of liquid nitrogen + TCA/acetone + Laemmli buffer was not compatible with SDS-PAGE of proteins. On the other hand, urea-based buffer achieved more reproducible results if combined with all the other conditions. TCA/acetone, MTBE/methanol, and direct protein solubilization of defatted hempseed flour demonstrated a good overview of protein content, but less abundant proteins were poorly represented. The Osborne sequential separation was helpful in diluting abundant proteins thus enhancing the method sensitivity.

Polish Varieties of Industrial Hemp and Their Utilisation in the Efficient Production of Lignocellulosic Ethanol

Nowadays, more and more attention is paid to the development and the intensification of the use of renewable energy sources. Hemp might be an alternative plant for bioenergy production. In this paper, four varieties of Polish industrial hemp (Białobrzeskie, Tygra, Henola, and Rajan) were investigated in order to determine which of them are the most advantageous raw materials for the effective production of bioethanol. At the beginning, physical and chemical pretreatment of hemp biomass was carried out. It was found that the most effective is the alkaline treatment with 2% NaOH, and the biomasses of the two varieties were selected for next stages of research: Tygra and Rajan. Hemp biomass before and after pretreatment was analyzed by FTIR and SEM, which confirmed the effectiveness of the pretreatment. Next, an enzymatic hydrolysis process was carried out on the previously selected parameters using the response surface methodology. Subsequently, the two approaches were analyzed: separated hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) and a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process. For Tygra biomass in the SHF process, the ethanol concentration was 10.5 g∙L⁻¹ (3.04 m³·ha⁻¹), and for Rajan biomass at the SSF process, the ethanol concentration was 7.5 g∙L⁻¹ (2.23 m³·ha⁻¹). In conclusion, the biomass of Polish varieties of hemp, i.e., Tygra and Rajan, was found to be an interesting and promising raw material for bioethanol production.