title: Characterization and antimicrobial activity of essential oils of industrial hemp varieties (Cannabis sativa L.).
abstract: The present study focused on inhibitory activity of freshly extracted essential oils from three legal (THC<0.2% w/v) hemp varieties (Carmagnola, Fibranova and Futura) on microbial growth. The effect of different sowing times on oil composition and biological activity was also evaluated. Essential oils were distilled and then characterized through the gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Thereafter, the oils were compared to standard reagents on a broad range inhibition of microbial growth via minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay. Microbial strains were divided into three groups: i) Gram (+) bacteria, which regard to food-borne pathogens or gastrointestinal bacteria, ii) Gram (-) bacteria and iii) yeasts, both being involved in plant interactions. The results showed that essential oils of industrial hemp can significantly inhibit the microbial growth, to an extent depending on variety and sowing time. It can be concluded that essential oils of industrial hemp, especially those of Futura, may have interesting applications to control spoilage and food-borne pathogens and phytopathogens microorganisms.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Area, DiSTA (Department of Agroenvironmental Sciences and Technologies), Italy. lorenzo.nissen@unibo.it
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nissen
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zatta
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stefanini
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grandi
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sgorbati
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Biavati
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Monti
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D002188:Cannabis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D056626:Inflorescence; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012621:Seasons; D015003:Yeasts / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts