Kailey Vanderboom's MSc Defence

Anti-inflammatory and Cartilage-Sparing Effects of Hemp Polyphenol Ex-tracts in In Vitro Models of Cartilage Inflammation

Cartilage has a limited capacity for self-repair due to its avascular nature, increasing interest in nutraceutical strategies that support joint health and limit inflammation. Hemp-derived polyphenol extracts contain bioac-tive compounds, including cannabidiol (CBD) and cannflavins, which may possess anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective properties. Therefore, the objective of this thesis was to investigate the effects of hemp polyphenol extract (HPE) and a cannflavin A-enriched fraction (CFA-FR) in porcine cartilage explants chal-lenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Across two in vitro studies, cartilage explants were conditioned with simulated digests of HPE or CFA-FR prior to inflammatory stimulation. Both extracts reduced inflammatory biomarkers, including prostaglandin E₂ and nitric oxide, while maintaining chondrocyte viability. HPE addi-tionally increased resolvin D1 concentrations and improved glycosaminoglycan retention within cartilage tissue. Overall, these findings demonstrate that hemp-derived polyphenols exhibit anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective effects, supporting their potential use as functional nutraceutical ingredients for joint health.