Scientists discover anti-cancer compounds in hemp roots

Recent research conducted by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture suggest that the roots of the Cannabis sativa L. contain bioactive compounds that may be of interest for cancer research.

A chemical anomaly leads to a major discovery

The breakthrough began in National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, Illinois. While performing routine chemical analyses on hemp roots, the chemist Dr. Korey Brownstein noticed several unknown signals. A more detailed investigation revealed that these peaks corresponded to a group of molecules called neolignans, a class of plant-derived compounds rarely associated with hemp.

After three years of complex extraction, purification, and structural analysis, Brownstein's team succeeded in isolating four distinct neolignans from hemp roots. This was the first time such compounds had been fully characterized from this part of the plant. Two of them were identified as Dadahol A and Dadahol B, molecules that have already been reported in other plant species but have never been confirmed in hemp at this level of detail.

The results were published in the Journal of Cannabis Research.

Moderate cytotoxic effects observed in laboratory models

To assess the biological relevance of these neolignans, the ARS team partnered with scientists from the Pediatric Oncology Laboratory at Peoria Medical University in Illinois. Under controlled laboratory conditions, the isolated compounds were tested on several pediatric cancer cell lines, including models of neuroblastoma, hepatoblastoma, and Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The results showed that the fractions containing dadahol A and dadahol B exhibited a moderate cytotoxic activity, reducing the viability of cancer cells. Among the compounds tested, dadahol A consistently showed the lowest IC50 values across several cell lines, indicating a greater inhibitory effect on cell proliferation.

«Further refinement and understanding of this molecule’s effect on pediatric cancers will open up new treatment options for childhood cancers that do not respond to current therapies,» said the ARS research team. It is important to note that the researchers emphasize that this is early-stage in vitro results and that extensive research remains to be done before any therapeutic application can be considered.

The research team is now focusing on the’increased mining and the conduct of more comprehensive studies on a wider range of cancer cell lines. Future work will aim to clarify the mechanisms of action of these neolignans, including their effects on cell cycles and programmed cell death.

From an agricultural byproduct to a value-added crop

Beyond its biomedical implications, this discovery could have significant economic consequences for the industrial hemp sector.

The roots are usually discarded or buried in the fields, without generating direct revenue. The identification of pharmaceutically interesting compounds could be a game-changer. «If we view hemp as a multipurpose crop, we can expand its applications and market: paper, seeds, fibers, and now, potentially, pharmaceutical compounds derived from the roots,» said Mr. Brownstein.