One of the most promising economic perspectives of hemp production chain is female
inflorescence valorization. By contrast, scientific literature lacks on chemical composition
or biological activity data from aqueous fraction obtained from industrial hemp flowers,
which have long been considered as waste products. In this context, the main focus
of the following study is the evaluation of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects
related to aqueous flower extracts from four commercial hemp cultivars (Futura 75,
Kc virtus, Carmagnola Cs and Villanova). We evaluated the extract phytochemical profile.
Then, we studied the water extracts both in vitro and ex vivo in order to test protective
effects in an experimental model of ulcerative colitis, constituted by isolated LPS-stimulated
colon. All cultivar extracts displayed similar total phenol and flavonoid content.
On the other hand, Futura 75 cultivar extract displayed a better antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
profile. Considering this, Futura 75 extract has been subsequently tested to evaluate
its effect on pathogen bacterial and fungal species involved in ulcerative colitis,
finding a significant inhibition on the growth of C. albicans and selected Gram positive
and negative bacterial strains.
Taken together, our results support the potential efficacy of Futura 75 water extracts
in managing the clinical symptoms related to ulcerative colitis.
