A new study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research has revealed that hemp roots contain compounds with strong anti-cancer activity, expanding the plant’s potential beyond cannabinoids like CBD and THC.
Researchers from the USDA, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria identified and isolated four neolignans from hemp roots, including two known as dadahol A and dadahol B. These compounds, previously reported in other plant species but never studied for such effects in hemp, were tested against several pediatric cancer cell lines.
The team evaluated their effects on neuroblastoma (CHLA15 and LAN5), hepatoblastoma (Hep3B), and Hodgkin’s lymphoma (L428) cells. Semi-pure fractions containing dadahol A and dadahol B initially showed the strongest cytotoxic activity, prompting further testing with purified compounds. Dadahol A was particularly potent, exhibiting the lowest inhibitory concentration (IC50) values across all cell lines.
At 25 µM, both dadahol A and dadahol B significantly reduced cancer cell viability, with the greatest impact observed in neuroblastoma. The IC50 values for dadahol A reached as low as 6.2 µM in CHLA15 cells, indicating high efficacy compared to other tested fractions. While previous reports had found these compounds inactive in inflammation assays, this marks the first evidence of their antiproliferative properties.
The researchers note that hemp roots, often overlooked in favor of the plant’s aerial parts, harbor diverse phytochemicals with potential pharmaceutical applications. By uncovering cytotoxic effects in compounds like dadahols, the study suggests hemp cultivation could yield benefits well beyond fiber, feed, and CBD production. Future research will aim to understand the mechanisms driving these effects, including apoptosis, necrosis, and pathway-level changes in cancer cells.
This work highlights hemp roots as a new frontier in natural product drug discovery, potentially offering novel leads for anti-cancer therapies.
Researchers conclude the study by stating:
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.
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