Protective effect of phenylpropionamides in the seed of Cannabis Sativa L. on Parkinson's disease through autophagy

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world. As one of the major degradation pathways, autophagy plays a pivotal role in maintaining the effective turnover of proteins and damaged organelles in cells. Lewy bodies composed of α-synuclein (α-syn) abnormally aggregated in the substantia nigra are important pathological features of PD, and autophagy dysfunction is considered to be an important factor leading to abnormal aggregation of α-syn. Phenylpropionamides (PHS) in the seed of Cannabis sativa L. have a protective effect on neuroinflammation and antioxidant activity. However, the therapeutic role of PHS in PD is unclear. In this study, the seeds of Cannabis sativa L. were extracted under reflux with 60% EtOH-H2O, and the 60% EtOH-H2O elution fraction was identified as PHS with the UPLC-QTOF-MS. The 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-pyridine (MPTP)-induced PD model in C57BL/6 J mice was used for behavioral and pharmacodynamic experiments. Behavioral symptoms were improved, Nissl-stained and TH-positive neurons in the substantia nigra were significantly increased in PHS-treated MPTP-induced PD model mice. Compared with the model group, PHS treatment reduced the expression level of α-syn, and the expression of TH increased significantly by western blotting, compared with the model group, the PHS group suppressed Caspase 3 and Bax expression and promoted Bcl-2 expression and levels of p62 decreased significantly, the ratio of LC3-II/I and p-mTOR/mTOR in the PHS group had a downward trend, suggesting that the therapeutic effect of PHS on MPTP-induced PD model mice may be triggered by the regulation of autophagy.

Rheological properties, biochemical changes, and potential health benefits of dehulled and defatted industrial hempseeds after fermentation

Dehulled hempseed (DHS), fermented dehulled hempseed (FDHS), hempseed cake (HSC), and fermented HSC (FHSC) were examined for their phytochemical composition, health benefits, and rheological characteristics. At 500 µg/mL concentration, DHS, FDHS, HSC, and FHSC extracts exhibited the ability to inhibit DPPH radicals, with 32.46 %, 47.35 %, 33.85 %, and 47.41 %, respectively. Similarly, they demonstrated potential to scavenge ABTS radicals by 13.7 %, 27.87 %, 14.40 % and 25.70 %, respectively. For lipase inhibition activity, FDHS (72.92 %) and FDHS (85.89 %) outperformed DHS (52.94 %) and HSC (43.08 %). Furthermore, FHSC enhanced the survival and reduced fat accumulation in glucose-supplemented Caenorhabditis elegans. We used HPLC and UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS for metabolite analysis, quantifying eight polyphenols using HPLC and identifying thirty-four metabolites with UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS. Generally, metabolomics indicated an improved metabolite profile after fermentation. Fermentation also showed impact on rheological characteristics, modifying viscosity, loss modulus, and storage modulus. These findings collectively demonstrate the ability of fermentation in enhancing overall value of hempseed.

Hemp Seed Cake Flour as a Source of Proteins, Minerals and Polyphenols and Its Impact on the Nutritional, Sensorial and Technological Quality of Bread

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seeds contain a high concentration of proteins and biologically active compounds. The protein content is even higher in case of lipid part removal in oil production. The remaining part is considered a leftover, usually being used in animal feed. The aim of this study was to investigate the physicochemical composition of hemp seed cake flour, its nutritional quality and its impact on bread quality parameters. The properties of hemp seed cake flour were assessed in terms of protein quality, mineral composition, polyphenols and antioxidant activity. Hemp seed cake proved to be an important source of high-quality protein (31.62% d.m.) with the presence of eight essential amino acids. The biologically active potential of hemp seed cake has been demonstrated by the high content of polyphenols, especially those from the Cannabisin group. Hemp seed cake flour was incorporated in wheat flour at levels from 5 to 40% (w/w) to investigate its influence on bread quality parameters. The addition of hemp seed cake flour increased the total phenol content of bread, thus greatly enhancing the antioxidant activity. The protein content of bread was found to be enhanced from 11.11% d.m (control sample) to 18.18% d.m (for sample with 40% hemp seed cake flour). On the other hand, the addition of hemp seed cake flour led to decreased bread porosity, increased hardness and decreased resilience in the seed cake. Although, all bread samples recorded sensorial attributes ranging between "slightly like" and "like it very much".

Carthamus tinctorius Suppresses LPS-Induced Anti-Inflammatory Responses by Inhibiting the MAPKs/NF-κB Signaling Pathway in HaCaT Cells

This study aimed to elucidate the anti-inflammatory activity of C. tinctorius leaves by measuring inflammatory parameters such as nitric oxide (NO) production and mRNA expression of iNOS, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1β in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced HaCaT cells. Further, the effect of C. tinctorius ethanol extract on the MAPKs/NF-κB signaling pathway was examined in HaCaT cells. The phytochemical profile of the ethanol extract of C. tinctorius leaves was determined using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. The results indicated that the ethanol extract of C. tinctorius effectively attenuated LPS-induced secretion of NO, IL-6, and IL-1β in HaCaT cells. Further, LPS-stimulated mRNA and protein expressions of iNOS were decreased by pre-treatment with C. tinctorius ethanol extract at the transcriptional level in HaCaT cells. Moreover, the ethanol extract of C. tinctorius suppressed NF-κB signaling in LPS-induced HaCaT cells. This suppression was mediated by MAPKs/NF-κB signaling, inhibiting the phosphorylation of p38 and p65 in HaCaT cells. However, there is no significant effect on the phosphorylation of JNK by the ethanol extract. The QTOF-MS/MS analysis revealed the identification of 27 components in the ethanol extract of C. tinctorius leaves. The data demonstrate that the ethanol extract of C. tinctorius leaves protects the LPS-induced HaCaT cells by inhibiting the expression of iNOS, IL-6, and IL-1β and suppressing the phosphorylation of the p38, p65, p-JNK via inactivation of MAPKs/NF-κB signaling pathway. These results demonstrate that C. tinctorius leaves may serve as a potential candidate to prevent inflammation-related diseases.

Hemp seeds: Nutritional value, associated bioactivities and the potential food applications in the Colombian context

For many years, Colombia was one of the countries with the largest illegal cultivation of cannabis around the world. Currently, it is going through a period of transition with a new government law that recently allows the cultivation, transformation, and commercialization of such plant species. In this sense, the identification of strategies for the valorization of products or by-products from Cannabis sativa represent a great opportunity to improve the value chain of this crop. One of these products is hemp seeds, which are exceptionally nutritious and rich in healthy lipids (with high content of three polyunsaturated fatty acids: linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, and gamma-linolenic acid), good quality protein, and several minerals. In addition, hemp seeds contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) or CBD (cannabidiol) in traces, molecules that are responsible for the psychoactive and therapeutic properties of cannabis. These low terpenophenolic contents make it more attractive for food applications. This fact, together with the constant search for proteins of vegetable origin and natural food ingredients, have aroused an important interest in the study of this biomass. Some bioactivities of phytochemical compounds (polyphenols and terpenoids, mainly) present in hemp seeds have provided antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. This review summarizes and discusses the context of hemp use in Latin-American and the new opportunities for hemp seeds culture in Colombia considering the valuable nutritional value, main functional bioactivities, and recent advances in food market applications of hemp seeds.

Acyclic Diterpene Phytol from Hemp Seed Oil (Cannabis sativa L.) Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Activity on Primary Human Monocytes-Macrophages

Seeds from non-drug varieties of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) have been used for traditional medicine, food, and fiber production. Our study shows that phytol obtained from hemp seed oil (HSO) exerts anti-inflammatory activity in human monocyte-macrophages. Fresh human monocytes and human macrophages derived from circulating monocytes were used to evaluate both plasticity and anti-inflammatory effects of phytol from HSO at 10–100 mM using FACS analysis, ELISA, and RT-qPCR methods. The quantitative study of the acyclic alcohol fraction isolated from HSO shows that phytol is the most abundant component (167.59 ± 1.81 mg/Kg of HSO). Phytol was able to skew monocyte-macrophage plasticity toward the anti-inflammatory non-classical CD14⁺CD16⁺⁺ monocyte phenotype and toward macrophage M2 (CD200R^high and MRC-1^high), as well as to reduce the production of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, diminishing the inflammatory competence of mature human macrophages after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. These findings point out for the first time the reprogramming and anti-inflammatory activity of phytol in human monocyte-macrophages. In addition, our study may help to understand the mechanisms by which phytol from HSO contributes to the constant and progressive plasticity of the human monocyte-macrophage linage.

Cannabidiolic acid in Hemp Seed Oil Table Spoon and Beyond

Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) is the main precannabinoid in industrial hemp. It represents a common constituent of hemp seed oil, but mainly abundant in the aerial parts of the plant (including their processing waste). Thus, the optimization of fast and low-cost purification strategies is mandatory, as well as a deep investigation on its nutraceutical and cosmeceutical properties. To this purpose, CBDA content in hemp seed oil is evaluated, and its recovery from wasted leaves is favorably achieved. The cytotoxicity screening towards HaCaT cells, by means of MTT, SRB and LDH release assays, suggested it was not able to decrease cell viability or perturb cell integrity up to 10 μM concentration. Thus, the ability of CBDA to differentially modulate the release of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines mediators has been evaluated, finding that CBDA decreased IFN-γ, CXCL8, CXCL10, CCL2, CCL4 and CCL5, mostly in a dose-dependent manner, with 10 μM tested concentration exerting the highest activity. These data, together with those from assessing antimicrobial activity against Gram(+) and Gram(−) bacteria and the antibiofilm formation, suggest that CBDA is able to counteract the inflammatory response, also preventing bacteria colonization.

Bioactive compounds from hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seeds: optimization of phenolic antioxidant extraction using simplex lattice mixture design and HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS2 analysis

The extraction of phenolic compounds from defatted hempseeds was optimized using a simplex lattice mixture design with three solvents (water, methanol, and acetone). The response variables were total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity evaluated by different spectrophotometric tests. The results showed that the binary acetone-water mixture in equal proportions is the optimal combination to achieve the maximum TPC (53.65 mg GAE per g extract) with higher antioxidant activities (265.53, 36.25, 119.03, 69.46, and 68.91 mg TE g⁻¹ extract for the TAC, DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and CUPRAC tests respectively). In addition, the phenolic profile analysis of defatted hemp seeds by HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS² techniques showed the predominance of hydroxycinnamic acid amides and lignanamides. It allowed visualizing the effect of each solvent mixture on the relative extracted amount of each identified phenolic compound. This study suggests that N-trans-caffeoyltyramine, cannabisin A, and cannabisin B might contribute strongly to the potent antioxidant activity of hempseed extracts. Thus, it encourages the use of defatted hemp seeds as a source of antioxidants with added value for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.

The extraction of phenolic compounds from hemp seeds was optimized using a mixture design. 50% aqueous acetone was the optimal solvent to extract 33 phenolic compounds with a richness in hydroxycinnamic acid amides and lignanamides.

Integrated Strategy From In Vitro, In Situ, In Vivo to In Silico for Predicting Active Constituents and Exploring Molecular Mechanisms of Tongfengding Capsule for Treating Gout by Inhibiting Inflammatory Responses

The study of screening active constituents from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is important for explicating the mechanism of action of TCM and further evaluating the safety and efficacy effectively. However, detecting and identifying the active constituents from complicated biological samples still remain a challenge. Here, a practical, quick, and novel integrated strategy from in vitro, in situ, in vivo to in silico for rapidly screening the active constituents was developed. Firstly, the chemical profile of TCM in vitro was identified using UPLC-Q Exactive-Orbitrap HRMS. Secondly, the in situ intestinal perfusion with venous sampling (IPVS) method was used to investigate the intestinal absorption components. Thirdly, after intragastric administration of the TCM extract, the in vivo absorbed prototype components were detected and identified. Finally, the target network pharmacology approach was applied to explore the potential targets and possible mechanisms of the absorbed components from TCM. The reliability and availability of this approach was demonstrated using Tongfengding capsule (TFDC) as an example of herbal medicine. A total of 141 compounds were detected and identified in TFDC, and among them, 64 components were absorbed into the plasma. Then, a total of 35 absorbed bioactive components and 50 related targets shared commonly by compounds and gout were integrated via target network pharmacology analysis. Ultimately, the effects of the absorbed components on metabolism pathways were verified by experiments. These results demonstrated that this original method may provide a practical tool for screening bioactive compounds from TCM treating particular diseases. Furthermore, it also can clarify the potential mechanism of action of TCM and rationalize the application of TFDC as an effective herbal therapy for gout.

Characterization of Phenethyl Cinnamamide Compounds from Hemp Seed and Determination of Their Melanogenesis Inhibitory Activity

Hyperpigmentation is induced by the overactivation of tyrosinase, which is a rate-limiting enzyme in melanogenesis. The defatted extract of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seed is known to have inhibitory effects on melanogenesis; however, effective compounds in the extract have not been identified yet. In this study, three phenethyl cinnamamides present in hemp seed extract were prepared by purification and chemical synthesis and were assessed for their inhibitory effect on melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. A comparison of the anti-melanogenesis and anti-tyrosinase activity of hemp seed solvent fractions revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction possessed the greatest potential for suppressing melanogenesis in melanoma cells by decreasing tyrosinase activity. We tentatively identified 26 compounds in the ethyl acetate fraction by comparing spectroscopic data with the literature. Three phenethyl cinnamamides such as N-trans-caffeoyltyramine, N-trans-coumaroyltyramine, and N-trans-feruloyltyramine present abundantly in the ethyl acetate fraction were prepared and their anti-melanogenesis and anti-tyrosinase activities in melanoma cells were evaluated. We found that N-trans-caffeoyltyramine and N-trans-feruloyltyramine inhibited alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-induced melanogenesis without cytotoxicity, while N-trans-coumaroyltyramine inhibited melanogenesis with cytotoxicity. IC₅₀ values of N-trans-caffeoyltyramine, N-trans-feruloyltyramine, and N-trans-coumaroyltyramine for inhibition of α-MSH-mediated tyrosinase activation were 0.8, 20.2, and 6.3 μM, respectively. Overall, N-trans-caffeoyltyramine possessed the strongest anti-melanogenesis activity among the three phenethyl cinnamamides evaluated. The inhibitory effect of N-trans-caffeoyltyramine was verified by determining the melanin content and tyrosinase activity in melanoma after treating the cells with synthetic compounds. Thus, N-trans-caffeoyltyramine isolated from hemp seed extract could be useful in cosmetics as a skin-whitening agent.

Dual Role of Phenyl Amides from Hempseed on BACE 1, PPARγ, and PGC-1α in N2a-APP Cells

In Alzheimer's disease (AD) the accumulation of amyloid β (Aβ) plaques in the brain leads to neuroinflammation, neuronal cell dysfunction, and progressive memory loss. Therefore, blocking the formation of Aβ plaques has emerged as one of the most promising strategies to develop AD treatments. Hempseed is widely used as a food, and recently its compounds have shown beneficial effects on neuroinflammation. The objective of this study was to investigate whether a fraction rich in phenyl amide compounds, N-trans-caffeoyltyramine (CAFT) and N-trans-coumaroyltyramine (CUMT), can affect gene expression: β-site amyloid-precursor-protein-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE 1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR γ), and PPARγ-coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) in N2a-APP cells. The mRNA levels were measured using RT-qPCR. The ethyl acetate fraction and CAFT were found to reduce BACE1 gene expression and are promissory PPARγ and PGC-1α natural agonists. The results show that hempseed compounds can inhibit the expression of BACE 1, which is involved in the accumulation of Aβ plaques and positively affect transcription factors involved in complex and diverse biological functions.

Application of Raw and Defatted by Supercritical CO2 Hemp Seed Press-Cake and Sweet Grass Antioxidant Extract in Pork Burger Patties

There is an increasing tendency toward the application of plant origin ingredients in meat products. This study evaluates the physicochemical properties and oxidative stability of pork burger patties produced with the addition of dried raw and defatted by supercritical CO₂ extraction hemp seed press-cake as protein-rich ingredients (1.5–2.0%) and sweet grass ethanolic extract (0.5%) as a strong natural antioxidant. The main aim of using such a combination was to assess the possibility of mitigating the negative effects of hemp seed press-cake, containing approx. 10% of highly unsaturated oil, on the oxidation of meat products. The patties were compared with the control sample (without additives) during storage on days 0, 4, 8, 15, and 21 at 4 °C in modified atmosphere conditions. Plant ingredients reduced the lightness of pork patties, while their effects on other physicochemical characteristics were insignificant. The patties with fully defatted hemp seed flour showed the lowest grilling losses. Based on the measurement of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, raw hemp seed press-cake increased the oxidative rate of pork patties; however, remarkably, the addition of sweet grass extract completely inhibited oxidation during the whole period of storage. The sensory characteristics of the products were acceptable; however, the patties with sweet grass extract received lower evaluation scores.

Analysis of the California list of pesticides, mycotoxins, and cannabinoids in chocolate using liquid chromatography and low-pressure gas chromatography-based platforms

Cannabis legalization has led to the development of a variety of cannabis-infused products with edibles being one of the most popular. The state of California has implemented comprehensive cannabis testing regulations requiring the analysis of cannabinoids (potency) and contaminants, such as pesticides and mycotoxins, in any type of cannabis good. In this work, we propose an analytical workflow for the quantification of the California list of pesticides and mycotoxins, as well as six cannabinoids, in chocolate, using 3 mL of solvent for the extraction. For the analysis of pesticides and mycotoxins, clean-up steps employing a C18 solid-phase extraction cartridge and dispersive solid-phase extraction sorbents were implemented. Gas chromatography amenable pesticides were analyzed using low-pressure gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry which allowed for a total method run of 12 min. Both liquid chromatography and gas chromatography instrumental methods had the same analysis time, ensuring satisfactory sample throughput. For the determination of cannabinoids, a dilution of the original organic extract collected for pesticides and mycotoxins analysis (and prior to any clean-up step) was used. Excellent results in terms of analytical figures of merit were obtained for all target analytes.

Discovery and Development of Inflammatory Inhibitors from 2-Phenylchromonone (Flavone) Scaffolds

Flavonoids are compounds based on a 2-phenylchromonone scaffold. Flavonoids can be divided into flavonoids, flavonols, dihydroflavones, anthocyanins, chalcones and diflavones according to the oxidation degree of the central tricarbonyl chain, the connection position of B-ring (2-or 3-position), and whether the tricarbonyl chain forms a ring or not. There are a variety of biological activities about flavonoids, such as anti-inflammatory activity, anti-oxidation and anti-tumor activity, and the antiinflammatory activity is apparent. This paper reviews the anti-inflammatory activities and mechanisms of flavonoids and their derivatives reported in China and abroad from 2011 till date (2011-2020), in order to find a good drug scaffold for the study of anti-inflammatory activities.

Hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives isolated from hempseed and their effects on central nervous system enzymes

New neuroprotective treatments of natural origin are being investigated. Both, plant extracts and isolated compounds have shown bioactive effects. Hempseed is known for its composition of fatty acids, proteins, fibre, vitamins, as well as a large number of phytochemical compounds. After a defatting process of the seeds, hydroxycinnamic acids and its amine derivatives are the majoritarian compounds in an ethyl acetate fraction (EAF). In the present study, we investigated in vitro effect on neuronal enzymes: MAO-A, MAO-B, tyrosinase and acetylcholinesterase. Besides, the effect of EAF on striatal biogenic amines in mice was evaluated. Both, EAF and isolated compounds (N-trans-caffeoyltyramine and N-trans-coumaroyltyramine), showed inhibitory action on MAO-A, MAO-B and tyrosinase. Furthermore, an increasing of biogenic amines was observed in the corpus striatum of the mice, after administration of EAF. These findings show that EAF and the hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives may represent a potential treatment in degenerative neuronal diseases.