Neolignans isolated from industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) roots have cytotoxic effects on cancer cells
Abstract Background The 2018 Farm Bill states that cultivars of Cannabis sativa L. (industrial hemp) are legal for industrial use if total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrations are less than 0.30%. Due to this legislation, hemp cultivars with low total THC have found a wide range of uses, from a...
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2025-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Cannabis Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-025-00316-5 |
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| author | Korey J. Brownstein Grace E. Nieukirk Jackson Edwards Maria Thomas Thu Hien Nguyen Pedro A. de Alarcón Karl E. Vermillion Manu Gnanamony |
| author_facet | Korey J. Brownstein Grace E. Nieukirk Jackson Edwards Maria Thomas Thu Hien Nguyen Pedro A. de Alarcón Karl E. Vermillion Manu Gnanamony |
| author_sort | Korey J. Brownstein |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The 2018 Farm Bill states that cultivars of Cannabis sativa L. (industrial hemp) are legal for industrial use if total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrations are less than 0.30%. Due to this legislation, hemp cultivars with low total THC have found a wide range of uses, from animal feed to paper production. Although cannabinoids are the most widely studied compounds in hemp, hemp produces numerous other compound classes as well, and these phytochemicals may have uses in the functional food and pharmaceutical industry. Methods Initial liquid chromatography profiling of hemp root samples revealed a group of uncharacterized peaks, and these peaks were tentatively identified as neolignans by Oribitrap ID-X high resolution mass spectrometer. To further elucidate the structure of these neolignans, we used techniques in liquid-liquid extraction, as well as flash chromatography to isolate them in preparation for NMR analysis. We then tested their inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) in a variety of cancer cell lines. Results and discussion Four neolignans were isolated from hemp roots and each differed in their molecular weight by 30 daltons. Two of the compounds were identified as dadahols A and B. We tested fractions of various purities containing neolignans against neuroblastoma cell lines CHLA15 and LAN5, hepatoblastoma cell line Hep3B, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma cell line L428. We found that semi-pure fractions containing dadahol A and/or dadahol B had the highest cytotoxic activity. We then tested pure dadahol A and dadahol B, and this revealed dadahol A exhibited the lowest IC50 values in all the cell lines. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-aa384582211049cfbcb9f543df334ac5 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2522-5782 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Cannabis Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-aa384582211049cfbcb9f543df334ac52025-08-20T03:06:51ZengBMCJournal of Cannabis Research2522-57822025-08-01711810.1186/s42238-025-00316-5Neolignans isolated from industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) roots have cytotoxic effects on cancer cellsKorey J. Brownstein0Grace E. Nieukirk1Jackson Edwards2Maria Thomas3Thu Hien Nguyen4Pedro A. de Alarcón5Karl E. Vermillion6Manu Gnanamony7USDA, ARS, NCAUR, Functional Foods Research UnitU.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) appointmentU.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) appointmentDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Illinois College of Medicine PeoriaDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Illinois College of Medicine PeoriaDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Illinois College of Medicine PeoriaUSDA, ARS, NCAUR, Functional Foods Research UnitDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Illinois College of Medicine PeoriaAbstract Background The 2018 Farm Bill states that cultivars of Cannabis sativa L. (industrial hemp) are legal for industrial use if total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrations are less than 0.30%. Due to this legislation, hemp cultivars with low total THC have found a wide range of uses, from animal feed to paper production. Although cannabinoids are the most widely studied compounds in hemp, hemp produces numerous other compound classes as well, and these phytochemicals may have uses in the functional food and pharmaceutical industry. Methods Initial liquid chromatography profiling of hemp root samples revealed a group of uncharacterized peaks, and these peaks were tentatively identified as neolignans by Oribitrap ID-X high resolution mass spectrometer. To further elucidate the structure of these neolignans, we used techniques in liquid-liquid extraction, as well as flash chromatography to isolate them in preparation for NMR analysis. We then tested their inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) in a variety of cancer cell lines. Results and discussion Four neolignans were isolated from hemp roots and each differed in their molecular weight by 30 daltons. Two of the compounds were identified as dadahols A and B. We tested fractions of various purities containing neolignans against neuroblastoma cell lines CHLA15 and LAN5, hepatoblastoma cell line Hep3B, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma cell line L428. We found that semi-pure fractions containing dadahol A and/or dadahol B had the highest cytotoxic activity. We then tested pure dadahol A and dadahol B, and this revealed dadahol A exhibited the lowest IC50 values in all the cell lines.https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-025-00316-5Cannabis sativaIndustrial hempNeolignanRootPediatric cancer |
| spellingShingle | Korey J. Brownstein Grace E. Nieukirk Jackson Edwards Maria Thomas Thu Hien Nguyen Pedro A. de Alarcón Karl E. Vermillion Manu Gnanamony Neolignans isolated from industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) roots have cytotoxic effects on cancer cells Journal of Cannabis Research Cannabis sativa Industrial hemp Neolignan Root Pediatric cancer |
| title | Neolignans isolated from industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) roots have cytotoxic effects on cancer cells |
| title_full | Neolignans isolated from industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) roots have cytotoxic effects on cancer cells |
| title_fullStr | Neolignans isolated from industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) roots have cytotoxic effects on cancer cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neolignans isolated from industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) roots have cytotoxic effects on cancer cells |
| title_short | Neolignans isolated from industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) roots have cytotoxic effects on cancer cells |
| title_sort | neolignans isolated from industrial hemp cannabis sativa l roots have cytotoxic effects on cancer cells |
| topic | Cannabis sativa Industrial hemp Neolignan Root Pediatric cancer |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-025-00316-5 |
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