• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.124-132
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• 2016

In traditional medicine, Cannabis sativa L. has been used for variety of reasons. Old literatures delineate that Cannabis had been used as anesthetic and analgesic, or to reduce symptoms such as cough, paralysis and so on. Although Cannabis has a long history of medical use, it is illegal in many countries including South Korea. Controversy over decriminalization of Cannabis to allow cannabis for therapeutic use has been around for many years. In order to understand current knowledge on the therapeutic use of medical Cannabis, comprehension of cannabinoids and other constituents of Cannabis is important. Here we reviewed the pharmacological effect of Cannabis and current mandatory regulation over Cannabis in many countries to suggest necessity of research on medical Cannabis.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2021.04a
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• pp.45-45
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• 2021

This study aimed to explore research on bibliometric features of cannabis by applying scientometric analysis method, and to approach experimental research evaluation based on it. A total of 30,352 articles on cannabis published since 2001 from SCOPUS were analyzed using KnowledgeMatrix Plus and VOSviewer software. Results showed differences in research activities in countries where cannabis is legalized (Canada, the United States, the Netherlands) and Asian countries where its use is illegal. Related to medical cannabis, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of studies on pain, epilepsy, seizures and brain diseases such as multiple sclerosis. In the field of basic research, the number of pharmacological studies of cannabis on the cannabinoid type 1 receptor signaling pathway and inflammation and obesity has increased significantly. Subsequent experimental studies have compared the anti-inflammatory effects of four parts of Korean cannabis such as root, stem, leaf, and bark. Consistent with the predicted results of the scientometric analysis, all parts of C. sativa showed inhibitory effects on COX-2, NO/iNOS and TNF-α expression in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. These attempts provide an experimental research approach based on scientometric assessment.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.251-259
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• 2024

This study evaluated the potential of hemp seed oil (Cannabis sativa L. seed oil, CSO) and hemp seed oil complex (Cannabis sativa L. seed oil complex, CSOC) as an anti-inflammatory material through comparative analysis. Anti-inflammatory effects of CSO and CSOC were confirmed through lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 model. As a result of confirming the inhibition of lipid oxidation through lipoxygenase inhibitory activity, CSO was not inhibited, but COSC was inhibited by more than 70%. As a result of confirming cytotoxicity through MTT analysis, CSO did not show cytotoxicity, but CSOC showed cytotoxicity at over 200 ㎍/ml. In LPS-induced RAW264.7, the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the production of nitric oxide (NO) were significantly inhibited by CSOC compared to CSO. Additionally, CSOC significantly inhibited the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and the production of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂). Through this study, we confirmed that CSOC has superior anti-inflammatory effects than CSO and has the potential to be used as an anti-inflammatory material.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.69-76
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• 2021

Cannabis sativa is an important industrial plant utilized to produce fiber, oil, and medicinal ingredients. A chemotype of cannabis is divided into "Drug type" with predominance of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and "Fiber type" with cannabidiolic acid (CBDA). To develop molecular markers for the discrimination of these two types, nucleotide sequences of THCA synthase and CBDA synthase as well as their pseudogenes were retrieved from the recently published cannabis genome in chromosome scale. Gene-specific SNPs were discovered by multiple alignment of these sequences, and 2 dominant marker sets from each gene were designed for selective amplification. Our markers successfully identified "Drug type" and "Fiber type" cannabis plants as well as forensic samples including processed materials. Our molecular markers will provide a fast and efficient system for molecular-based identification of the cannabis plant.

• Mycobiology
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.186-194
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• 2023

In July 2021, wilting symptoms were observed in adult and seedling hemp (Cannabis sativa L. cv. Cherry Blossom) plants grown in a greenhouse. As the disease progressed, yellowing and wilting symptoms on the leaves developed, resulting in whole plant death. In seedling plants, typical damping-off symptoms were observed. To identify the pathogen, the roots of diseased plants were sampled, surface sterilized, and cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) media. From the culture, 4 different fungal isolates were recovered and purely cultured. Each fungal isolate showed distinct growth shapes and color development on malt extract agar, oatmeal agar, sabouraud dextrose agar, and PDA media. Microscopic observation and molecular identification using ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer sequencing identified them as 3 Fusarium spp. and 1 Thielaviopsis paradoxa. Additional sequencing of elongation factor 1-alpha and b-tubulin regions of 3 Fusarium spp. revealed that 2 of them are Fusarium solani, and the other one is Fusarium proliferatum. To examine which isolate can act as a causal agent of wilt disease of hemp, each isolate was tested for their pathogenicity. In the pathogenicity test, F. solani AMCF1 and AMCF2, and F. proliferatum AMCF3, but not T. paradoxa AMCF4, were able to cause wilting disease in hemp seedlings. Therefore, we report that F. solani AMCF1 and AMCF2, and F. proliferatum AMCF3 as causal agents of Fusarium wilt of hemp plants. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the wilt disease of C. sativa L. caused by Fusarium spp. in Korea.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2024

With the recent trend towards the legalization and relaxation of regulations surrounding medical cannabis, the diverse benefits of cannabis extracts are being scientifically validated, positioning them as promising next-generation ingredients across various fields. Compounds extracted from cannabis, such as cannabinoid (CB), cannabidiol (CBD), phytocannabinoid (pCB), and hemp seed hexane extracts (HSHE), have been shown to reduce skin inflammation, improve moisture retention exhibit strong antioxidant effects, and improve various skin conditions. In this paper, we review the effects of hemp extracts on the skin and explore their potential role as cosmetic ingredients.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.1-12
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• 1994

Various plastids in leaf and bracteal tissues of Cannabis sativa L. were examined by electron microscopy. Young chloroplasts without starch grain in mesophyll cells were ellipsoidal, and osmiophilic globules within them were common in stroma. During the plastid differentiation, the mature chloroplasts in mesophyll were changed in shape depending on the numbers and sizes of starch grain in stroma. Electron-dense granular substances were occurred along the outer membrane of chloroplasts in mesophyll. Typical plastids with reticulate body were present in the glandular trichomes. Electron-grey material appeared along the surface of a plastid. A light area in reticulate body is considered to represent junction point of thylakoids.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.677-685
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• 2021

Cannabis sativa L. belongs to the Cannabaceae family and is an annual herbaceous flowing plant. The plants can be classified into narcotic marijuana and nonnarcotic hemp. Different parts of C. sativa L. have been used as food, medicine, cosmetics, fiber and textile. However, the use of leaf, flower, and seed of C. sativa L was forbidden in Korea in January 1977 as a result of the Cannabis Control Act due to the narcotic properties. The plant's mature stems have limited uses for the production of fiber and sheets. Recently, various cannabinoids, terpenes and essential fatty acids were identified from C. sativa L., and their safety and useful bio-activities, such as neuroprotective, anti-inflammation, antithrombosis, antiepileptic, and antimicrobial activities, and the relief of pain, have been highlighted. Furthermore, the process of reduction of tetrahydrocannabinol, a representative narcotic compound, and the isolation of cannabidiol, a nonnarcotic active compound in C. sativa L., have been determined. These findings resulted in the legalization of C. sativa L. in Korea for medical use in December 2018 and the exclusion of C. sativa L. from the narcotic list of the UN Commission on Narcotics Drugs (UNCND) in December 2020. Therefore, developments of various high-value added products have commenced worldwide. Additionally, in 2021, the Korean government deregulated special zones based on hemp. In this study, the current status and the prospect of the hemp industry, as well as essential techniques for developing new hemp products, are provided for the activation of the Korea Green-Rush.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.250-256
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• 2023

Cannabis sativa (CS) has been in the spotlight not only for its medical uses but also as a raw material for cosmetics. As fermented cosmetics are known to have various health benefits, they have been extensively researched. Here, we investigated the characteristics of CS stems fermented using various gut microbes. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay and melanin content analysis revealed that melan-a cells containing CS stems fermented with Weissella paramesenteroides (CSWP) showed considerably reduced melanin content. Additionally, CSWP downregulated the expression of several melanogenesis factors, tyrosinase-related protein-1, and tyrosinase-related protein-2. This study suggests that the anti-melanogenic effect of CSWP could provide a new basis for the development of skin-lightening agents.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.434-445
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• 2023

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seeds have recently been attracting attention as a new high-value-added food material owing to their excellent nutritional properties, and research on the development of functional food materials using hemp seeds is actively progressing. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant properties of hemp seed protein hydrolysates. Protein hydrolysates were prepared from defatted hemp seed powder (HS) by enzymatic hydrolysis using five different proteases (alcalase, bromelain, flavourzyme, neutrase, and papain). 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) assay and SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that HS showed a high degree of hydrolysis after treatment with each enzyme except papain. The total polyphenol content of the protein hydrolysates (<3 kDa) and the RC50 values obtained from two different antioxidant tests showed that alcalase hydrolysate (HSA) had a relatively high level of antioxidant capacity. In addition, treatment with HSA (25-100 ㎍/mL) significantly inhibited linoleic acid peroxidation. These results suggest that hemp seed protein hydrolysates are potential sources of natural antioxidants. Future studies will focus on the identification of active peptides from HSA.