Phytochemical Profile, Extraction and Characterization of Bioactive Compounds from Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa...

An efficient method for the simultaneous extraction of cannabinoids and terpenes from the leaves and flowers of Cannabis sativa L. (var. Felina 32) was developed. Extraction parameters, including solvent type, temperature, and pressure, were optimized, revealing that hexane enables high-yield cannabinoid recovery. Moreover, terpene composition was influenced by the extraction temperature. Two extracts with the highest cannabinoid content were selected for further study, Feli1 (64.76%) and Feli2 (61.32%), both obtained using hexane. Feli1, extracted at -55 °C, had a monoterpene-to-sesquiterpene ratio of 16.7% to 83.3%, while Feli2, extracted at 25 °C, showed a higher monoterpene content (25.2%) and lower sesquiterpene content (74.8%). Both extracts demonstrated selective antiproliferative activity against cancer cell lines, with reduced toxicity toward normal breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A). Feli2 showed slightly stronger antiproliferative effects, likely due to its higher monoterpene content. At low concentrations, both extracts stimulated the growth of MV4-11 leukemia and MDA-MB-468 triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells, while higher concentrations led to growth inhibition. These stimulatory effects were weaker than those observed for pure Δ⁹-THC or CBD.