Advanced Characterization of Hemp Flour (<i>Cannabis sativa</i> L.) from Dacia Secuieni and Zenit Varieties, Compared to Wheat Flour
Iulian-Eugen Rusu,
Romina Alina Marc (Vlaic),
Crina Carmen Mureşan,
Andruţa Elena Mureşan,
Miuţa Rafila Filip,
Bogdan-Mihai Onica,
Kádár Balázs Csaba,
Ersilia Alexa,
Lidia Szanto,
Sevastiţa Muste
Affiliations
Iulian-Eugen Rusu
Food Engineering Department, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, University of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3–5 Calea Manaştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Romina Alina Marc (Vlaic)
Food Engineering Department, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, University of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3–5 Calea Manaştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Crina Carmen Mureşan
Food Engineering Department, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, University of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3–5 Calea Manaştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Andruţa Elena Mureşan
Food Engineering Department, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, University of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3–5 Calea Manaştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Miuţa Rafila Filip
Raluca Ripan Institute for Research in Chemistry, Babeş-Bolyai University, 30 Fântânele Street, 400294 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Bogdan-Mihai Onica
Department of Environmental and Plant Protection, University of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Kádár Balázs Csaba
Food Engineering Department, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, University of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3–5 Calea Manaştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Ersilia Alexa
Department of Food Control, Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “King Michael I of Romania”, 300641 Timisoara, Romania
Lidia Szanto
Food Engineering Department, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, University of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3–5 Calea Manaştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Sevastiţa Muste
Food Engineering Department, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, University of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3–5 Calea Manaştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
The advanced characterization of flour from hemp seeds (edible fruits of Cannabis sativa L.) from the Dacia Secuieni and Zenit varieties, compared to wheat flour, was studied in this research. The aim was to present the characterization of 2 varieties, out of the 70 accepted in Europe, for human consumption. The varieties selected from hemp meet the THC level requirement (0.3 or 0.2% of the dry weight of the reproductive part of the female flowering plant) in seeds. Hemp flour was obtained by grinding. The flour samples were evaluated for physicochemical parameters (moisture, crude protein, lipids, ash, crude fiber), the content of micro and macro elements, fatty acids, amino acids, and carbohydrates. The total proteins in hemp flour are found in larger quantities by over 35% compared to wheat flour, and the lipids reach the threshold of 28%. The amount of mineral substances exceeds 3% in hemp flour, and the fibers exceed 26%, compared to 0.61% for wheat flour. The predominant mineral substances were K, Ca, Mg, p, Fe, and Mn. The predominant fatty acids were the unsaturated ones, predominantly being linoleic acid, followed by oleic and gamma-linoleic acid. In the case of amino acids, the highest amount is found in glutamic acid for hemp flours. As for carbohydrates, sucrose is found in the largest amount, followed by glucose and fructose. In conclusion, hemp flours have superior non-traditional characteristics to wheat flour, being a potential raw material for fortifying food or using them as such, having beneficial effects of consumption on the proper functioning of the human body.
