Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Lignin-Derived Compounds in Ground Hurd Tissue of Cannabis sativa L. (Hemp) Cultivars

Authors

• Jourdan E. Lakes, USDA Agricultural Research Service
• Anjam Sadik, University of KentuckyFollow
• Robert C. Pearce, University of KentuckyFollow
• Barbara L. Knutson, University of KentuckyFollow
• Stephen E. Rankin, University of KentuckyFollow
• Bert C. Lynn, University of KentuckyFollow
• Michael D. Flythe, USDA Agricultural Research Service

Abstract

Objectives: Characterize lignin-derived compounds from the hurd of 10 fiber/grain Cannabis sativa L. cultivars and investigate the antimicrobial activity of select compounds on the wasteful ruminant bacterium, Acetoanaerobium sticklandii SR.   Methods: Hurd was processed using an aqueous ethanol solvent system and analyzed via GC-MS to identify and characterize lignin derivatives. Antimicrobial activity of the hurd and three monomers was assessed using solid (hurd) and liquid medium (monomers) bioassays against SR.   Results: 27 compounds were identified, most as monomers but a few were dimers, ethylated derivatives, and organic acids. There were approximately equal G- and S-units with substantially fewer H-units. Several derivatives were present across cultivars, but their abundance appeared varied. Generally, syringaldehyde, vanillin, and syringic acid were most prominent, whereas vanillic acid and p-coumaric acid were less so, and syringaresinol was largely variable. Antimicrobial activity of ground hurd, as well as vanillin, vanillic acid, and p-coumaric acid were tested against SR. Only vanillin exhibited antimicrobial activity (1 mg mL⁻¹) under the testing conditions.   Conclusions: The current work primarily contributes to the characterization and identification of lignin-derivatives in hemp hurd across fiber/grain cultivars with secondary contributions identifying hemp hurd as a potential source of plant-derived antimicrobials for amino-acid fermenting bacteria.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2026

Notes/Citation Information

© The Author(s) 2026

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1177/1934578X261436515

Funding Information

The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: AS was funded by the SunGrant initiative grant # 3200005447. JEL was supported as an Administrator-Funded Post Doctoral Fellow by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) National Program NP-101, Food Animal Production (5042-32630-003-000D). The research and MDF were supported by the USDA, ARS National Program NP-215, Grass, Forage and Rangeland Agroecosystems (5042-21500-001-00D).

Repository Citation

Lakes, Jourdan E.; Sadik, Anjam; Pearce, Robert C.; Knutson, Barbara L.; Rankin, Stephen E.; Lynn, Bert C.; and Flythe, Michael D., "Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Lignin-Derived Compounds in Ground Hurd Tissue of Cannabis sativa L. (Hemp) Cultivars" (2026). Chemistry Faculty Publications. 208.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/chemistry_facpub/208