Hemp microgreens as an innovative functional food: Variation in the organic acids, amino acids, polyphenols, and cannabinoids composition of six hemp cultivars. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pannico, Antonio; Kyriacou, Marios C.; El-Nakhel, Christophe; Graziani, Giulia; Carillo, Petronia; Corrado, Giandomenico; Ritieni, Alberto; Rouphael, Youssef; De Pascale, Stefania
• Is Part Of: Food research international. Volume 161(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Cannflavin -- Cannabisin -- Flavonoids -- Cannabidiol -- Cannabigerol -- Tetrahydrocannabinol -- Hydroxycinnamic acids -- Amino acids profile -- UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Canada -- Periodicals; Food Technology -- Periodicals; Food -- Periodicals; Food-Processing Industry -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Canada -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Food industry and trade; Canada; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 664.005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111863
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-9969

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Hemp microgreens have far lower oxalate concentration than other microgreens species. Hemp microgreens are a high-quality protein source of all essential amino acids. CBDA was the most abundant phytocannabinoid in all hemp microgreens cultivars. Hemp microgreens proved widely safe for consumption in terms of Δ 9 -THC content. 'Finola' and 'Silvana' microgreens exhibit remarkable anti-inflammatory cannflavin A and B content. Abstract: Hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.) is a multi-functional crop cultivated for fiber, seeds, or phytochemical extraction. Once a major industrial crop in several agro-environments, its cultivation strongly declined in developed countries since World War II. Exploiting hemp vegetative tissue as innovative food has remained largely unexplored. The current work examined the potential production of hemp microgreens. Six cultivars were assessed for yield and composition of organic acids, amino acids, polyphenols and phytocannabinoids, through IC, FLD-HPLC and UHPLC-HRMS, respectively. Bioactive composition was strongly related to the hemp variety. 'Silvana' demonstrated the highest total content of amino acids and essential amino acids, high concentrations of cannflavin A and B, and moderate levels of cannabidiol and cannabigerol. 'Finola' distinguished by the highest concentration of cannflavins and total polyphenols, and the lowest levels of Δ 9 -THC. Regardless of varietal differences, hemp microgreens proved widely safe in terms of Δ 9 -THC content.