A Comprehensive Phytochemical Analysis of Terpenes, Polyphenols and Cannabinoids, and Micromorphological Characterization of 9 Commercial Varieties of <i>Cannabis sativa</i> L.
Eugenia Mazzara,
Jacopo Torresi,
Gelsomina Fico,
Alessio Papini,
Nicola Kulbaka,
Stefano Dall’Acqua,
Stefania Sut,
Stefania Garzoli,
Ahmed M. Mustafa,
Loredana Cappellacci,
Dennis Fiorini,
Filippo Maggi,
Claudia Giuliani,
Riccardo Petrelli
Affiliations
Eugenia Mazzara
Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project (CHIP), School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Jacopo Torresi
Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project (CHIP), School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Gelsomina Fico
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
Alessio Papini
Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via La Pira 4, 50121 Florence, Italy
Nicola Kulbaka
Società Agricola Everweed Di G.Di Vietri & C. SS, Frazione Conti 2, 63857 Amandola, Italy
Stefano Dall’Acqua
Natural Product Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
Stefania Sut
Natural Product Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
Stefania Garzoli
Department of Drug Chemistry and Technology, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
Ahmed M. Mustafa
Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project (CHIP), School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Loredana Cappellacci
Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project (CHIP), School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Dennis Fiorini
Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project (CHIP), School of Science and Technology, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Filippo Maggi
Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project (CHIP), School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Claudia Giuliani
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
Riccardo Petrelli
Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project (CHIP), School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
New hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) strains developed by crossbreeding selected varieties represent a novel research topic worthy of attention and investigation. This study focused on the phytochemical characterization of nine hemp commercial cultivars. Hydrodistillation was performed in order to collect the essential oils (EO), and also the residual water and deterpenated biomass. The volatile fraction was analyzed by GC-FID, GC-MS, and SPME-GC-MS, revealing three main chemotypes. The polyphenolic profile was studied in the residual water and deterpenated biomass by spectrophotometric assays, and HPLC-DAD-MSn and 1H-NMR analyses. The latter were employed for quali–quantitative determination of cannabinoids in the deterpenated material in comparison with the one not subjected to hydrodistillation. In addition, the glandular and non-glandular indumentum of the nine commercial varieties was studied by means of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy in the attempt to find a possible correlation with the phytochemical and morphological traits. The EO and residual water were found to be rich in monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, and flavonol glycosides, respectively, while the deterpenated material was found to be a source of neutral cannabinoids. The micromorphological survey allowed us to partly associate the phytochemistry of these varieties with the hair morphotypes. This research sheds light on the valorization of different products from the hydrodistillation of hemp varieties, namely, essential oil, residual water, and deterpenated biomass, which proved to be worthy of exploitation in industrial and health applications.
