Comparative evaluation of antioxidant activity of Cannabis sativa L. using FRAP and CUPRAC assays

Abstract

Cannabis is one of the oldest plants on earth, which is known and used for medical purposes. There are many articles on hempseed oil research in the scientific databases, while the antioxidant activity of Cannabis sativa L. herb extracts has not been extensively studied yet, to our knowledge. In the present study, antioxidant properties of different Cannabis sativa L. varieties from different regions of Lithuania were examined. Spectrophotometric FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) and CUPRAC (cupric reducing antioxidant capacity) methods were used for determination. It was found that Cannabis sativa L. herb extracts possess antioxidant activity. The strongest antioxidant activity was evaluated in the Futura variety and the lowest in Manoica. The obtained results showed that a statistically significant (p < 0.05) higher reductive power was determined by analysing the raw material by the spectrophotometric FRAP method. According to the hemp growth location in Lithuania, the highest TEAC values were estimated in the samples from the North region.