Abstract
Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is currently one of the most controversial and promising crops. This study compared nine wild hemp (C. sativa spp. spontanea V.) accessions with 13 registered cultivars, eight breeding lines, and one cannabidiol (CBD) hemp strain belonging to C. sativa L. The first three groups had similar main essential oil (EO) constituents, but in different concentrations; the CBD hemp had a different EO profile. The concentration of the four major constituents in the industrial hemp lines and wild hemp accessions varied as follows: β-caryophyllene 11–22% and 15.4–29.6%; α-humulene 4.4–7.6% and 5.3–11.9%; caryophyllene oxide 8.6–13.7% and 0.2–31.2%; and humulene epoxide 2, 2.3–5.6% and 1.2–9.5%, respectively. The concentration of CBD in the EO of wild hemp varied from 6.9 to 52.4% of the total oil while CBD in the EO of the registered cultivars varied from 7.1 to 25%; CBD in the EO of the breeding lines and in the CBD strain varied from 6.4 to 25% and 7.4 to 8.8%, respectively. The concentrations of δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the EO of the three groups of hemp were significantly different, with the highest concentration being 3.5%. The EO of wild hemp had greater antimicrobial activity compared with the EO of registered cultivars. This is the first report to show that significant amounts of CBD could be accumulated in the EO of wild and registered cultivars of hemp following hydro-distillation. The amount of CBD in the EO can be greater than that in the EO of the USA strain used for commercial production of CBD. Furthermore, this is among the first reports that show greater antimicrobial activity of the EO of wild hemp vs. the EO of registered cultivars. The results suggest that wild hemp may offer an excellent opportunity for future breeding and the selection of cultivars with a desirable composition of the EO and possibly CBD-rich EO production.
Highlights
Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a new-old crop, one of the most controversial and promising crops due to its multiple utilizations, and contains a wide array of biologically active substances synthesized and accumulated in different plant parts [1]
The results from this study suggest that wild/spontaneous hemp in Europe is chemotaxonomically related to the industrial hemp varieties grown in Europe and deviate from the chemical profile of the USA hemp strain that was developed from marijuana-type cannabis for the commercial production of CBD
The results from this study demonstrated that the essential oil (EO) of wild hemp from Serbia is different in its chemical profile and bioactivity from the EO of registered industrial hemp cultivars, the breeding lines, and the hemp strain grown for CBD production in North America
Summary
Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a new-old crop, one of the most controversial and promising crops due to its multiple utilizations, and contains a wide array of biologically active substances synthesized and accumulated in different plant parts [1]. Hydro-distilled or steam distilled hemp EO are generally preferred by consumers and can be incorporated into a number of certified organic products; the market for organic food and non-food products reached US$55 billion in 2019 in the USA alone [2]. Research suggests that the hemp EO has medical significance and may be utilized as an ingredient in commercial insect repellents and biopesticides [4,5]. Some cultivars such as Finola have been employed for commercial production of EO, as hemp EO has commanded high prices in recent years
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