Introduction
Inflammation has significantly impacted public health by contributing to a range of chronic diseases. Conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s are all linked to chronic inflammation. These diseases can lead to severe health complications, reduce quality of life, and increase mortality rates. The current drugs related to inflammation can have harmful side effects because of the way they can disrupt normal processes, so there’s a need for safer, natural alternatives
Cannabis sativa L. (hemp) seeds have recently gained renown for their pharmaceutical potential due to their rich protein and oil content, which are essential for meeting human dietary needs. Scientists have focused on hemp seeds as a potential anti-inflammatory treatment, offering a natural way to alleviate inflammation.
Probiotic strains are commonly used in pharmaceuticals due to their established safety profile and numerous health benefits, such as reducing inflammation and combating diabetes. Fermentation is widely employed in both food and medicine to release bioactive compounds like organic acids and peptides. Given the potential anti-inflammatory effects of hemp seeds but the lack of research around the fermentation of hemp seeds mixed with bacterial strains, the study aimed to combine cultured probiotic strains with fermented hemp seeds to produce and enhance bioactive compounds through fermentation.
Specifically, the study focused on using the probiotic strains and the hemp seeds’ ability to block pro-inflammatory cytokines to help treat inflammatory diseases. They found that hemp seeds mixed with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum significantly reduced levels of inflammation in cells.
Methods
The hemp seeds were ground into a fine powder and fermented with lactic acid bacteria LABs to potentially enhance their beneficial properties. Following the fermentation process, the seeds were extracted with ethanol, separating the useful components from the rest of the material. The effectiveness and safety of these compounds were then tested using cultured cells, examining their impact on cell viability and their anti-inflammatory potential. A lab-simulated digestion system was used to mimic human digestion, studying how salivary, gastric, and intestinal digestion absorbed the antiinflamatory compounds. This was paired with a Caco-2 cell model, a lab-grown version of human gut lining, which was used to mimic intestinal absorption, determining how well compounds from the fermented hemp seeds are absorbed in the intestines.
Results
The study found that fermented hemp seeds (FHS) significantly increased levels of Indoleacetic acid (IA) and homovanillic acid (HVA). The concentration of IA and HVA indicates increased anti-inflammatory effects because these compounds are known to have potent anti-inflammatory properties. Higher concentrations of IA and HVA mean more of these active compounds are available to interact with and inhibit key inflammatory mediators.
Furthermore, the study confirmed that both RHS and FHS were non-toxic to cells at concentrations below 1000 μg/mL, making them safe for further analysis. The lab-simulated digestion system and the Caco-2 cellular model showed that the bioactive compounds in fermented hemp seeds (FHS) were highly bioaccessible, meaning they were effectively released and available for absorption during digestion. The results showed that “approximately 60% of anti-inflammatory compounds can be absorbed and utilized by the body.”
Conclusion
Addressing inflammation through diet, lifestyle changes, and potentially natural remedies like fermented hemp seeds could offer a promising approach to mitigating these widespread health issues. Considering that the study “showed that hemp seeds have no toxicity,” there is great potential for further research into this natural treatment for inflammatory diseases.
Further research could explore clinical trials to assess the safety and efficacy of fermented hemp seeds in humans. In vivo trials are essential because they replicate the complex interactions within a living organism, providing a comprehensive understanding of how fermented hemp seeds affect inflammation in the whole body. The success found in the simulated digestive system is an exciting step towards confirming the potential benefits of fermented hemp seeds.
Reference
Shan, LingYue, et al. “Uncovering the Antiinflammatory Potential of Lactiplantibacillus Plantarum Fermented Cannabis Sativa L Seeds.” Npj Science of Food, vol. 8, no. 1, 28 June 2024, www.nature.com/articles/s41538-024-00285-8#Sec11, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-024-00285-8.
