Hemp extract composition and uses
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Hemp Extract Composition: Cannabinoids, Terpenes, and Nutritional Compounds
Hemp extracts are rich in a variety of bioactive compounds, with their composition depending on the plant part used and the extraction method. The main groups of compounds found in hemp extracts include cannabinoids (such as cannabidiol [CBD], cannabidiolic acid [CBDA], and tetrahydrocannabinol [THC]), terpenes (like β-caryophyllene, α-pinene, and α-humulene), phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and sterols 1234+3 MORE.
- Cannabinoids: CBD is often the predominant cannabinoid in hemp extracts, with concentrations varying based on extraction technique and plant part. CBDA and minor cannabinoids are also present, especially in ethanol and pentane extracts 1246+1 MORE.
- Terpenes: β-caryophyllene is commonly the most abundant terpene, along with α-pinene and α-humulene. Hydrodistillation and essential oil extraction methods yield a higher variety and concentration of terpenes 1246+1 MORE.
- Fatty Acids and Nutritional Compounds: Hemp seed oil is notable for its high content of unsaturated fatty acids (80–90%), including omega-3 and omega-6, as well as γ-tocopherol, chlorophylls, and carotenes 7910.
- Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidants: Hemp extracts, especially from leaves and flowers, contain significant levels of phenolic compounds, contributing to their antioxidant activity 2810.
- Other Phytochemicals: Extracts from seeds and roots may contain compounds like 2-monolinolein, methyl eicosatetraenoate, γ-sitosterol, and friedelan-3-one .
Extraction Methods and Their Impact on Hemp Extract Composition
The method used to extract hemp significantly affects the resulting chemical profile:
- Supercritical CO2 Extraction: Yields extracts with the highest variety and abundance of cannabinoids, particularly CBD, but fewer terpenes 17.
- Hydrodistillation: Produces extracts rich in terpenes, especially β-caryophyllene, and a moderate cannabinoid content 16.
- Ethanol and Methanol Extraction: Results in extracts with higher levels of acidic cannabinoids (like CBDA) and phenolic compounds, but lower terpene content 12.
- Microwave-Assisted Extraction: Can increase CBD content in essential oils while maintaining high yields of terpenes .
- Cold-Pressing (for Seed Oil): Preserves unsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols, and minor cannabinoids in hemp seed oil 79.
Uses of Hemp Extracts: Food, Medicine, Cosmetics, and More
Hemp extracts have a wide range of applications due to their diverse bioactive composition:
Food and Nutritional Supplements
- Hemp Seed Oil: Used as a nutritional oil rich in essential fatty acids, proteins, and antioxidants. It is incorporated into food products like bread, snacks, and vegetable drinks 37910.
- Functional Ingredients: Hemp extracts are added to foods for their antioxidant properties, helping to preserve oils and improve nutritional value 378.
Medicinal and Therapeutic Uses
- Cannabinoid-Rich Extracts: Used for their potential therapeutic effects, including pain relief, anti-inflammatory, anti-epileptic, anti-anxiety, and anti-nausea properties. CBD-enriched oils and extracts are authorized in some countries for specific medical conditions 34510.
- Antimicrobial Activity: Certain hemp extracts, especially those rich in cannabinoids and terpenes, show significant antimicrobial effects against bacteria and fungi, suggesting potential in pharmaceuticals and functional foods 45.
Cosmetics and Personal Care
- Hemp Oil and Extracts: Used in cosmetics for their moisturizing, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties 34.
Veterinary Applications
- Animal Nutrition and Health: Hemp extracts and oils are used in animal feed for their nutritional benefits and as therapeutic agents for conditions like pain, inflammation, and anxiety in veterinary medicine .
Challenges and Future Trends
Despite their potential, the use of hemp extracts faces challenges such as extraction costs, stability, toxicity concerns, and legal restrictions. Advances in extraction technologies and delivery systems, such as nano-carriers for oral cannabinoid delivery, are being developed to improve efficacy and expand applications 35.
Conclusion
Hemp extracts are complex mixtures containing cannabinoids, terpenes, fatty acids, phenolics, and other bioactives. Their composition and potential uses depend heavily on the extraction method and plant part utilized. Hemp extracts are increasingly used in food, medicine, cosmetics, and animal health, with ongoing research and technological advances aiming to maximize their benefits and applications 1234+6 MORE.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
1
Effect of Hemp Extraction Procedures on Cannabinoid and Terpenoid Composition
Hemp extraction methods significantly impact cannabinoid and terpene composition, with hydrodistilled extracts containing the most variety and abundance of terpenes, supercritical CO2 extracts containing the most variety and abundance of cannabinoids, and ethanol extracts having minor terpene levels.
2024·
5citations
·Francisco T Chacon et al.PDF
2
Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Various Extracts of Fibre Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Cultivated in Lithuania
Lithuanian fibre hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) contains high levels of phytochemicals, including CBD and THC, with significant antioxidant activity, particularly in leaf essential oils and mature root extracts.
2023·
22citations
·A. Judžentienė et al.PDF
4
Spent Material Extractives from Hemp Hydrodistillation as an Underexplored Source of Antimicrobial Cannabinoids
Spent material extractives from hemp hydrodistillation show promising antimicrobial properties, offering potential for use in functional foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
2024·
5citations
·S. Luca et al.PDF
5
Hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.) Extract: Anti-Microbial Properties, Methods of Extraction, and Potential Oral Delivery
Hemp extracts have potential health benefits, including anti-microbial properties and nutritional value, and new extraction methods using nano-carriers show promise for oral delivery of cannabinoids.
Highly Cited
2019·
91citations
·Farahnaz Fathordoobady et al.7
Hemp Seed Oil Extraction and Stable Emulsion Formulation with Hemp Protein Isolates
Hemp seed oil extraction using supercritical CO2 and ultrasounds produces a stable emulsion with high nutritional value, enabling the valorisation of by-products and waste in complete food products.
2022·
29citations
·N. Baldino et al.PDF
8
Antioxidant Effects of Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Inflorescence Extract in Stripped Linseed Oil
Hemp inflorescence extract can be used as a natural antioxidant in vegetable oils and lipid products to retard lipid oxidation, especially in oils with high unsaturation.
Rigorous Journal
2020·
31citations
·Carolina Cantele et al.PDF
10
Hemp in Veterinary Medicine: From Feed to Drug
Hemp and its derivatives show excellent nutritional and health-promoting properties in animal nutrition and therapeutics, with potential benefits for conditions like pain, inflammation, epilepsy, anxiety disorders, and nausea.
2020·
52citations
·G. della Rocca et al.PDF