Natural Hemp-Ginger Extract and Its Biological and Therapeutic Efficacy

Abstract

The prevention and treatment of skin diseases remains a major challenge in medicine. The search for natural active ingredients that can be used to prevent the development of the disease and complement treatment is on the rise. Natural extracts of ginger and hemp offer a wide range of bioactive compounds with potential health benefits. This study evaluates the effectiveness of hemp and ginger extract as a supportive treatment for skin diseases. It reports a synergistic effect of hemp and ginger extract. The contents of cannabinoids and components of ginger are determined, with the highest being CBD (587.17 ± 8.32 µg/g) and 6-gingerol (60.07 ± 0.40 µg/g). The minimum inhibitory concentration for Staphylococcus aureus (156.5 µg/mL), Escherichia coli (625.2 µg/mL) and Candida albicans (78.3 µg/mL) was also analyzed. Analysis of WM-266-4 cells revealed the greatest decrease in metabolic activity in cells exposed to the extract at a concentration of 1.00 µg/mL. Regarding the expression of genes associated with cellular processes, melanoma aggressiveness, resistance and cell survival, a significant difference was found in the expression of ABCB5, CAV1 and S100A9 compared with the control (cells not exposed to the extract).

Keywords: WM-266-4; extract; ginger; hemp; skin diseases.

Figure 1

Metabolic activity of WM-266-4 cells exposed to different concentrations of hemp-ginger extract. Data generated in five replicates in each experiment for three independent experiments are shown as mean ± SD. Statistical significance, indicated with *, was defined as p < 0.050 compared with the control group (Kruskal-Wallis post hoc Dunn test).

Figure 2

Morphology of WM-266-4 cells exposed to 1.00 µg/mL hemp-ginger extract (a) and control group: WM-266-4 cells in growth medium (b). Magnification 200×.

Figure 3

Apoptotic activity of extract against melanoma WM-266-4 and HEM cells at various extract concentrations (0 µg/mL, 0.3 µg/mL, 0.7 µg/mL, 1 µg/mL, 2 µg/mL and 3 µg/mL).

Figure 4

Analysis of relative expression of target genes ABCB5, CAV1, SIRT1 and S100A9 in WM-266-4 cells exposed to different concentrations of extract (1.00 µg/mL, 0.30 µg/mL and 0.01 µg/mL) and in control WM-266-4 cells (no extract present). Data from 3 independent experiments are presented as 2^−ΔΔCt expressions relative to the control (monolayer culturing)  ±  standard error of expression. The statistical difference compared to the control was determined using the Kruskal-Wallis post hoc Dunn test (* p < 0.050).

Figure 5

Simplified scheme of the process: 1: conveyor, chain, closed; 2: rotary drum; 3: sowing disc with a slope; 4: collection container; 5: bowl with stirrer; 6: ultrasonic vessel, 7: filter one; 8: filter two; 9: rotavapour; 10: autoclave; 11: valve; 12: HP filter; 13: HP pump; 14: rupture disc; 15: one-way valve; 16: heat exchanger; 17: regulating valve; 18: separator; 19: flowmeter; 20: mixer.

Figure 6

Melanoma cells WM-266-4 during cultivation.

Figure 7

Normal human epidermal melanocytes during cultivation.