Phytochemical and pharmacological profiles of the essential oil from the inflorescences of the Cannabis sativa L.

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) female inflorescences have long been considered as waste material in the hemp production chain. However, past studies focused on the valorization of female inflorescences as high-quality byproducts with promising health-promoting applications. In line with this evidence, the present research investigated the phytochemical and pharmacological properties with a comparative approach on two essential oils (EOs) obtained from the inflorescences of the industrial hemp varieties Kompolti and Tisza. The EOs composition in terpenes and terpenophenols was determined. The effects of the EOs in modulating the viability of different cancer cell lines was investigated. Whereas, in hypothalamic HypoE22 cells, the release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin was measured, as an index of neuromodulatory activity. Moreover, the EO mycostatic properties were explored towards different dermatophyte species. The prominent terpenes were iso-caryophyllene, α-humulene, and β-caryophyllene oxide in both Kompolti and Tisza EOs, whereas cannabidiol and cannabigerolic acid were the main terpenophenols, respectively. Both essential oils inhibited the viability of different cancer cells; particularly, the essential oil of Tisza variety displayed a marked cytotoxicity in cholangiocarcinoma cells. A possible role of both terpenophenols and caryophyllane sesquiterpenes as bioactive anticancer compounds has been hypothesized. While cannabidiol could contribute to the stimulation of hypothalamic serotonin release by Kompolti EO. The essential oils also produced antimycotic effects, for which β-caryophyllene oxide could be partly responsible. Overall, the present findings highlight pharmacological properties of Kompolti and Tisza EOs, which deserve further investigations and strengthen the interest in industrial hemp inflorescences as valuable source of bioactive extracts and compounds.