Hemp Roots Enter Science Radar in Study on Childhood Cancer

A part of the hemp plant that had little utility until now, the roots, has returned to the focus of scientific research after a study by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) identified and analyzed chemical compounds that may offer new perspectives for the treatment of pediatric cancer. 

According to the USDA website, the discovery may also generate new economic opportunities for farmers cultivating industrial hemp, expanding the use of this plant beyond traditional products.

Isolated Compounds in Roots Showed Activity Against Childhood Cancer Cells

According to the official USDA website, researchers from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), an internal research unit of the department, investigated the chemical composition of the roots of cannabis sativa L., a plant used in industrial hemp and known for applications in fiber, grains, and oils. 

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Over three years of work, the team led by research chemist Dr. Korey Brownstein isolated four organic compounds that, through structural modeling, were predicted as neolignans, natural molecules that had not been extracted from this part of the plant before.

In partnership with the Pediatric Oncology Laboratory at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria, scientists tested these compounds in the laboratory and observed that they exhibited moderate activity in destroying pediatric cancer cells in culture, a known effect as cytotoxicity. 

Researchers highlighted that better understanding the effect of these compounds against different types of cancer that do not respond to conventional therapies could open new lines of investigation for future treatments.

New Paths for Agriculture and Scientific Research

According to the publication, this is the first time these specific neolignans have been isolated from hemp roots and associated with cytotoxic effects on childhood cancer cell lines. 

The research was published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and signals a possible expansion of the economic value of hemp, traditionally limited to above-ground parts and seeds.

The next steps planned by the researchers include increasing the extraction of these compounds for larger and more controlled functional studies, investigating a broader range of cancer cells to assess therapeutic potential in depth. 

The team also emphasized that adding value to the roots may encourage farmers to treat hemp as a multi-use crop, benefiting both the agricultural and scientific sectors.