Cannabinoid-like anti-inflammatory compounds from flax fiber

Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters

Monika Styrczewska²  Katarzyna Ratajczak¹  Anna Kulma²  Ryszard Amarowicz³  Jan Szopa² 

[1] Department of Traumatology and Hand Surgery, Wrocław Medical University, Wrocław, Poland$$;Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland$$;Division of Food Science, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland$$

关键词: Flax;    Linen;    Cannabinoid;    Inflammation;    Terpenoids;    Flax fibers;    Cannabinoid signaling;   

DOI  :  10.2478/s11658-012-0023-6

学科分类：分子生物学，细胞生物学和基因

来源: Uniwersytet Wroclawski * Wydzial Biotechnologii / University of Wroclaw, Faculty of Biotechnology

【 摘 要 】

Flax is a valuable source of fibers, linseed and oil. The compounds of the latter two products have already been widely examined and have been proven to possess many health-beneficial properties. In the course of analysis of fibers extract from previously generated transgenic plants overproducing phenylpropanoids a new terpenoid compound was discovered. The UV spectra and the retention time in UPLC analysis of this new compound reveal similarity to a cannabinoid-like compound, probably cannabidiol (CBD). This was confirmed by finding two ions at m/z 174.1 and 231.2 in mass spectra analysis. Further confirmation of the nature of the compound was based on a biological activity assay. It was found that the compound affects the expression of genes involved in inflammatory processes in mouse and human fibroblasts and likely the CBD from Cannabis sativa activates the specific peripheral cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) gene expression. Besides fibers, the compound was also found in all other flax tissues. It should be pointed out that the industrial process of fabric production does not affect CBD activity. The presented data suggest for the first time that flax products can be a source of biologically active cannabinoid-like compounds that are able to influence the cell immunological response. These findings might open up many new applications for medical flax products, especially for the fabric as a material for wound dressing with anti-inflammatory properties.

【 授权许可】

Unknown