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Review
. 2020 Sep 7;25(18):4078.
doi: 10.3390/molecules25184078.

Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa subsp. sativa) as an Emerging Source for Value-Added Functional Food Ingredients and Nutraceuticals

H P Vasantha Rupasinghe  1 , Amy Davis  1 , Shanthanu K Kumar  2 , Beth Murray  1 , Valtcho D Zheljazkov  3
Affiliations
Review

Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa subsp. sativa) as an Emerging Source for Value-Added Functional Food Ingredients and Nutraceuticals

H P Vasantha Rupasinghe et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L., Cannabaceae) is an ancient cultivated plant originating from Central Asia and historically has been a multi-use crop valued for its fiber, food, and medicinal uses. Various oriental and Asian cultures kept records of its production and numerous uses. Due to the similarities between industrial hemp (fiber and grain) and the narcotic/medical type of Cannabis, the production of industrial hemp was prohibited in most countries, wiping out centuries of learning and genetic resources. In the past two decades, most countries have legalized industrial hemp production, prompting a significant amount of research on the health benefits of hemp and hemp products. Current research is yet to verify the various health claims of the numerous commercially available hemp products. Hence, this review aims to compile recent advances in the science of industrial hemp, with respect to its use as value-added functional food ingredients/nutraceuticals and health benefits, while also highlighting gaps in our current knowledge and avenues of future research on this high-value multi-use plant for the global food chain.

Keywords: CBD; Cannabis sativa; cannabinoids; health benefits; hemp seed oil; oil extraction.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Number of abstracts in the CAB international database in the last 20 years. The search with the keywords (A) Cannabis sativa + Food, (B) Cannabis sativa + Protein, (C) Cannabis sativa + Oil, (D) Cannabis sativa + Cannabidiol.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Chemical structures of selected biologically active compounds of industrial hemp. (A) Linoleic acid (omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid [PUFA]), (B) alpha-Linolenic acid (omega-3 PUFA), (C) Tocopherol, (D) Cannabidiol (CBD), (E) Cannabisin A, and (F) Caffeoyltyramine.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Advanced value-added technologies can drive value-added innovation to make use of industrial hemp to introduce a wide array of functional food ingredients and nutraceuticals.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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