Grinding and Fractionation during Distillation Alter Hemp Essential Oil Profile and Its Antimicrobial Activity

Abstract

The hypothesis of this study was that we can modify the essential oil (EO) profile of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and obtain fractions with differential composition and antimicrobial activity. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the effects of grinding of hemp biomass before EO extraction and fractionation during distillation on EO profile and antimicrobial activity. The study generated a several EO fractions with a diversity of chemical profile and antimicrobial activity. The highest concentrations of β-pinene and myrcene in the EO can be obtained in the 5–10 min distillation time (DT) of ground material or in the 80–120 min DT of nonground material. High δ-3-carene and limonene EO can be obtained from 0–5 min DT fraction of nonground material. High eucalyptol EO can be sampled either in the 0–5 min DT of the ground material or in the 80–120 min of nonground material. Overall, the highest concentrations of β-caryophyllene, α-(E)-bergamotene, (Z)-β-farnesene, α-humulene, caryophyllenyl alcohol, germacrene D-4-ol, spathulenol, caryophyllene oxide, humulene epoxide 2, β-bisabolol, α-bisabolol, sesquiterpenes, and cannabidiol (CBD) can be obtained when EO is sampled in the 80–120 min DT and the material is nonground. Monoterpenes in the hemp EO can be increased twofold to 85% by grinding the material prior to distillation and collecting the EO in the first 10 min. However, grinding resulted in a slight but significant decrease in the CBD concentration of the EO. CBD-rich oil can be produced by collecting at 120–180 min DT. Different EO fractions had differential antimicrobial activity. The highest antimicrobial activity of EO fraction was found against Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus. THC-free EO can be obtained if the EO distillation is limited to 120 min. The results can be utilized by the hemp processing industry and by companies developing new hemp EO-infused products, including perfumery, cosmetics, dietary supplements, food, and pharmaceutical industries.

Comparative Investigation of Composition, Antifungal, and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of the Essential Oil from Three Industrial Hemp Varieties from Italian Cultivation

“…Recently, we characterized the terpene profile of the aforementioned EOs [ 25 ], and the chromatographic analyses indicated the E -caryophyllene and α-pinene as the most representative terpenes, in all tested EOs. These results agreed with previous literature data [ 8 , 26 ], as well. The gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry detector (GC–MS) profile of the three EOs is also available in Table 1 , Table 2 and Table 3 , whereas the high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to ultraviolet and mass spectrometry detectors (HPLC–UV-MS) chromatograms show the cannabidiolic acid as the prominent terpenophenol (range 57.4–70.6%), in all tested samples ( Figure 1 A–C).…”

Hemp Growth Factors and Extraction Methods Effect on Antimicrobial Activity of Hemp Seed Oil: A Systematic Review

“…The highest concentration of compounds (limonene, α-pinene, terpinolene, myrcene, and β-(E)-ocimene) was observed in October, suggesting that the best harvest time to obtain antimicrobial properties is in October. Myrcene and α-pinene are most concentrated in the HEO from Backi Petrovac, Serbia with 9.79-16.33% and 10.7-20.7% concentration [30]. Correspondingly, β-myrcene has shown antimicrobial potential in other studies [39,40].…”

“…A table was put together to compare the antimicrobial potential and the extraction method used. Four papers out of eleven gave the plant's major constituents [16,[30][31][32]. The antioxidant activity of HSO was observed through radical scavenging activity against 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH).…”

“…They are humus-rich grassland soils with a pH of 7.2 and are commonly used for crop cultivation, including hemp plants in Backi Petrovac, Serbia [54]. HEO from Serbia possessed moderate antimicrobial activity; however, it was not as high as Russian 'Buro' and 'Saykaj' HEO sourced from Volgograd Oblast, Russia, with chernozemic and chestnut soils [16,30]. These two locations showed the highest antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in this study.…”

Influence of the Use of an Ionic Liquid as Pre-Hydrodistillation Maceration Medium on the Composition and Yield of Cannabis sativa L. Essential Oil

“…This would not only reduce the cultivation waste material, but also its handling costs for the producers, complying with the requirements of the circular economy model. Many published studies reported its numerous, potential applications in different fields: its uses range from beverage flavoring agent [ 7 ], to insect pests repellent [ 8 , 9 ], acaricidal [ 10 ] and antimicrobial [ 11 ].…”