The Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Potential of Leaves and Inflorescences Extracts of Selected Hemp Varieties Obtained with scCO2

Abstract

Cannabis sativa, a versatile plant with numerous varieties, holds promising potential for a wide range of biological activity. As raw materials for research, we chose leaves and inflorescences of hemp varieties such as Białobrzeskie, Henola, and Tygra, which are cultivated mainly for their fibers or seeds. The choice of extraction is a key step in obtaining the selected compositions of active compounds from plant material. Bearing in mind the lipophilic nature of cannabinoids, we performed supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) extraction at 50 °C under 2000 (a) and 6000 PSI (b). The cannabinoid contents were determined with the use of the HPLC-DAD method. The antioxidant capabilities were assessed through a series of procedures, including the DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and FRAP methods. The capacity to inhibit enzymes that play a role in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and tyrosinase was also studied. The dominant cannabinoids in the extracts were cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA). The highest concentration of eight cannabinoids was detected in the Tygra inflorescences extract (b). The most notable antioxidant properties were provided by the Tygra inflorescences extract (b). Nonetheless, it was the Henola inflorescences extract (b) that demonstrated the most efficient inhibition of AChE and BChE, and tyrosinase was inhibited the most significantly by the Białobrzeskie inflorescences extract (b). Multidimensional comparative analysis enrolled all assays and revealed that the Henola inflorescences extract (b) showed the most substantial neuroprotective potential.

A Fisetin Delivery System for Neuroprotection: A Co-Amorphous Dispersion Prepared in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

“…While the neuroprotective assays were based on AChE and BuChE inhibition, they were determined according to the previously reported method [42]. The activity was then converted to galanthamine equivalent using the standard curves for AChE and BChE (Figures S5 and S6).…”

Antimicrobial, Probiotic, and Immunomodulatory Potential of Cannabis sativa Extract and Delivery Systems

“…The extraction process and preparation of the systems were performed as presented in our previous paper [71,72]. The extract from Cannabis sativa inflorescences was obtained by a dynamic supercritical CO 2 extraction process using the SFT-120 apparatus (shim-pol, Izabelin, Polska).…”

“…The cannabinoid profile (CBD, CBDA, and CBC) of the extract and the systems was analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with the diode array detector (HPLC-DAD)-validated method, Shimadzu Corp. (Kyoto, Japan). The previously described and validated method by the authors was used [35,71,72]. The mobile phase consisted of 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid and acetonitrile (41:59, v/v), and the column CORTECS Shield RP18 (2.7 µm; 150 mm × 4.6 mm, Cortecs, St. Paul, MN, USA) was used.…”

“…Thus, current research studied the antimicrobial activity of Cannabis sativa systems known to increase solubility and apparent permeability after oral administration, aiming to impact the bioavailability and efficacy of cannabis constituents as it was shown in our previous article [71]. Cannabis sativa extract, Henola variety, has demonstrated neuroprotective activity in our earlier studies [71,72]. The gut-brain axis, along with interactions with gut microbiota, significantly influences neuroprotective effects [73].…”