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Cannabinoid-like anti-inflammatory compounds from flax fiber

Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters volume 17, pages479–499(2012)Cite this article

Abstract

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.

Abbreviations

ALA:

α-linoleic acid

CB1:

cannabinoid receptor 1

CB2:

cannabinoid receptor 2

CBC:

cannabichromene

CBCA:

cannabichromenic acid

CBD:

cannabidiol

CBDA:

cannabidiolic acid

CBGA:

cannabigerolic acid

CBN:

cannabinol

CHI:

chalcone isomerise

CHS:

chalcone synthase

CREB:

cAMP response element-binding

DEG:

differentially expressed genes

DFR:

dihydroflavonol reductase

DMEM:

Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium

EDTA:

ethylenediaminetetraacetate

GAPDH:

glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

GC-MS:

gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

GPP:

geranyl pyrophosphate

HPLC:

high-performance liquid chromatography

IL1β:

interleukin 1β

IL6:

interleukin 6

IL8:

interleukin 8

IFN-γ:

interferon γ

IPP:

isopentenyl diphosphate

LPS:

lipopolysacharide

MCP-1:

monocyte chemotactic protein 1

NFκB:

nuclear factor κB

NHDF:

normal human dermal fibroblasts

OLA:

olivetolic acid

PBS:

phosphate buffered saline

PKA:

protein kinase A

PUFA:

polyunsaturated fatty acids

RQ:

relative quantification

RT PCR:

real-time polymerase chain reaction

SD:

standard deviation

SDG:

secoisolariciresinol diglucoside

SE:

standard error

SOCS-1:

suppressor of cytokine signaling 1

TFA:

trifluoroacetic acid

THC:

tetrahydrocannabinol

THCA:

Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid

TLR4:

Toll-like receptor 4

TNF-α:

tumor necrosis factor α

TNFR:

TNF receptor

UPLC:

ultra performance liquid chromatography

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148, Wrocław, Poland

    Monika Styrczewska, Anna Kulma & Jan Szopa

  2. Department of Traumatology and Hand Surgery, Wrocław Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556, Wrocław, Poland

    Katarzyna Ratajczak

  3. Division of Food Science, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10-747, Olsztyn, Poland

    Ryszard Amarowicz

Authors
  1. Monika Styrczewska
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  2. Anna Kulma
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  3. Katarzyna Ratajczak
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  4. Ryszard Amarowicz
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  5. Jan Szopa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anna Kulma.

Additional information

These authors contributed equally to this work

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Styrczewska, M., Kulma, A., Ratajczak, K. et al. Cannabinoid-like anti-inflammatory compounds from flax fiber. Cell Mol Biol Lett 17, 479–499 (2012). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11658-012-0023-6

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Key words

  • Flax
  • Linum usitatissimum
  • Linen
  • Cannabinoid
  • Inflammation
  • Terpenoids
  • Flax fibers
  • Cannabinoid signaling

Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters

ISSN: 1689-1392

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