Chemical constituents of industrial hemp roots and their anti-inflammatory activities
Abstract
Objective
Although the chemical constituents of the aerial parts of Cannabis have been extensively studied, phytochemicals of Cannabis roots are not well characterized. Herein, we investigated the chemical constituents of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) roots and evaluated the anti-inflammatory activities of phytochemicals isolated from the hemp roots extract.
Methods
An ethyl acetate extract of hemp roots was subjected to a combination of chromatographic columns to isolate phytochemicals. The chemical structures of the isolates were elucidated based on spectroscopic analyses (by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry). The anti-inflammatory effects of phytochemicals from hemp roots were evaluated in an anti-inflammasome assay using human monocyte THP-1 cells.
Results
Phytochemical investigation of hemp roots extract led to the identification of 32 structurally diverse compounds including six cannabinoids (1–6), three phytosterols (26–28), four triterpenoids (22–25), five lignans (17–21), and 10 hydroxyl contained compounds (7–16), three fatty acids (29–31), and an unsaturated chain hydrocarbon (32). Compounds 14–21, 23, 27, and 32 were identified from the Cannabis species for the first time. Cannabinoids (1–5) reduced the level of cytokine tumor necrosis-alpha (by 38.2, 58.4, 47.7, 52.2, and 56.1%, respectively) and 2 and 5 also decreased the interleukin-1β production (by 42.2 and 92.4%, respectively) in a cell-based inflammasome model. In addition, non-cannabinoids including 11, 13, 20, 25, 29, and 32 also showed selective inhibition of interleukin-1β production (by 23.7, 22.5, 25.6, 78.0, 24.1, 46.6, and 25.4%, respectively) in THP-1 cells.
In summary, a phytochemical investigation of a hemp roots extract led to the identification of 32 compounds including six cannabinoids (1–6) and 26 non-cannabinoid compounds. Isolates 14–21, 23, 27, and 32 were reported from Cannabis for the first time. Cannabinoids from the hemp roots extract exerted anti-inflammatory effects by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines in an inflammasome model with THP-1 cells. Cannabinoids 2 and 5 reduced LPS-nigericin-induced production of cytokines IL-1β (by 42.2% and 92.4%, respectively) and TNF-α (by 58.4% and 56.1%, respectively). In addition, non-cannabinoids type compounds including 11, 13, 19,20, 25, 29, and 32 also showed promising anti-inflammatory effects. Findings from the current study expanded the understanding of the phytochemical constituents of cannabis roots and their anti-inflammatory effects, which may provide useful information for the utilization of cannabis roots as bioactive natural products.
Conclusion
The phytochemical constituent of a hemp roots extract was characterized and compounds from hemp roots exerted promising anti-inflammatory effects.
Study Cited : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9841654/
