Three Moroccan cannabis seed varieties demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects in lab and animal tests, with the Beldiya variety showing the strongest activity.
Phytochemistry researchers, anyone interested in non-cannabinoid cannabis compounds, food scientists exploring cannabis seeds as functional foods.
What the researchers found
Researchers compared the chemical composition and biological activity of three Moroccan Cannabis sativa seed varieties: Cric, Khard, and Beldiya. HPLC analysis revealed that all three contained polyphenolic compounds including catechin, quercetin, ursolic acid, and rosmarinic acid.
The Beldiya variety consistently showed the strongest antioxidant activity across multiple assays, with the lowest IC50 values (meaning it required the least amount to achieve an effect). All three varieties contained appreciable levels of phenolics and flavonoids, with total phenolic content ranging from about 77 to 85 mg GAE/g.
In animal models, the seed extracts demonstrated both anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain-reducing) effects. Molecular docking simulations targeting the 5IKQ and 3RP8 enzymes — both involved in inflammatory pathways — suggested that the identified polyphenolic compounds could interact with these targets, providing a potential mechanistic explanation for the observed biological activity.
Why it matters
Most cannabis research focuses on cannabinoids (THC, CBD), but cannabis seeds contain a different chemical profile dominated by phenolics and flavonoids rather than cannabinoids. This study shows that cannabis seeds have biological activity through non-cannabinoid pathways — expanding understanding of the cannabis plant's potential beyond its most famous compounds.
The numbers in context
Total phenolic content: 76.87 (Cric), 81.45 (Khard), 84.96 (Beldiya) mg GAE/g. Flavonoid content: 3.32–3.56 mg QE/g. Beldiya DPPH IC50: 0.12 mg/mL, ABTS IC50: 0.71 mg/mL, FRAP IC50: 0.32 mg/mL. Key compounds identified: catechin, quercetin, ursolic acid, rosmarinic acid.
How the study worked
Laboratory study combining chemical analysis (HPLC-DAD for compound identification), in vitro antioxidant assays (ABTS, TAC, FRAP, DPPH), in vivo animal models for anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, and in silico molecular docking against inflammatory pathway enzymes. Three cannabis seed varieties from Morocco were compared.
Who was studied
Three varieties of Cannabis sativa L. seeds from Morocco were analyzed.
What this study cannot tell us
Animal model results may not translate to humans. The study tested hydroalcoholic seed extracts, not isolated compounds, so the specific contribution of each polyphenol is unclear. Moroccan cannabis varieties may have different chemical profiles than varieties grown elsewhere. Molecular docking predicts potential interactions but doesn't confirm biological mechanisms.
How to read the evidence
Preclinical study combining lab assays and animal models — demonstrates biological activity but clinical relevance for humans remains unestablished.
When this study was published
Published in 2026, contributing to a growing body of research on non-cannabinoid compounds in the cannabis plant.
The bigger picture
Cannabis is typically studied for its cannabinoid content, but seeds — which contain negligible THC and CBD — have their own pharmacological profile. The polyphenolic compounds identified here (catechin, quercetin, rosmarinic acid) are well-established bioactive compounds found in many plants. This research positions cannabis seeds alongside other functional foods and herbal preparations, connecting to the broader pain and inflammation literature (RTHC-00233, RTHC-00225) through a different biochemical pathway.
Replication
Not stated in abstract.
Funding
Not reported in abstract.
Conflicts of interest
Not reported in abstract.
Questions still open
- Do the anti-inflammatory effects of cannabis seeds come from individual polyphenols or their combination? How do these effects compare to established anti-inflammatory drugs at equivalent doses? Could cannabis seed-derived extracts offer a standardizable, non-psychoactive therapeutic product?
Read the original research
A comparative study on phytochemical analysis and biological properties of three varieties of cannabis sativa L. seeds.
Open life sciences, 21(1), 20251211
Open Life Sciences is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes research across various scientific disciplines.
Citation
El-Mernissi, Rafik; El Menyiy, Naoual; Zouhri, Aziz; El-Mernissi, Yahya; Metouekel, Amira; Siddique, Farhan; Mughram, Mohammed H Al; Temesgen, Denekew; Alanzi, Abdullah R; Khalid, Mohammad; Amhamdi, Hassan; Abboussi, Oualid; Hajji, Lhoussain. (2026). A comparative study on phytochemical analysis and biological properties of three varieties of cannabis sativa L. seeds.. Open life sciences, 21(1), 20251211. https://doi.org/10.1515/biol-2025-1211
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