Study: Hemp Seed Compounds Show Potential for Treating Diabetes and Obesity
- The study identified two hemp seed hull-derived compounds, Cannabisin A and Cannabisin B, that improve blood sugar control and metabolic functions related to diabetes and obesity.
- Both compounds strongly inhibited the enzyme PTP1B, a major negative regulator of insulin and leptin signaling, and activated AMPK, which is key to cellular energy balance.
- Laboratory and animal tests showed the compounds restored glucose uptake, reactivated insulin sensitivity pathways, reduced fat-related protein activity, and improved glucose transport in cells and diabetic mice.
- The findings suggest these compounds may serve as dual-target antidiabetic agents with potential for future use as insulinand leptin-sensitizing therapies.
Two naturally occurring compounds derived from hemp seed hulls can help improve blood sugar control and restore key metabolic functions tied to diabetes and obesity, according to a new study published in Phytomedicine. The research was conducted by scientists from Konyang University, who examined two phenylpropionamide lignanamides known as Cannabisin A and Cannabisin B. According to the study, both compounds acted on two major metabolic targets linked to insulin resistance and poor energy regulation: protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B, known as PTP1B, and AMPK, an enzyme involved in cellular energy balance.
Researchers found that both compounds strongly inhibited PTP1B, which is considered a major negative regulator of insulin and leptin signaling. In laboratory tests involving muscle cells and liver cells, the compounds helped restore glucose uptake and reactivated several signaling pathways tied to insulin sensitivity and metabolic function. The study found similar effects in primary liver cells taken from mice fed a high-fat diet, including reduced activity of a protein linked to fat production and increased expression of GLUT2, which helps transport glucose.
The compounds were also tested in diabetic mice. In those experiments, oral doses of Cannabisin A and Cannabisin B improved fasting blood glucose in a dose-dependent manner and enhanced results on both oral glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance tests. Researchers also found that the compounds reactivated multiple signaling pathways in skeletal muscle and liver that are closely tied to glucose regulation.
The study says the findings indicate these hemp-derived compounds may work as dual-target antidiabetic agents by inhibiting PTP1B while activating AMPK. Researchers say their activity across cell-based, ex vivo and animal models, along with supporting human data analysis, points to potential future use as insulin- and leptin-sensitizing agents.
The full abstract of the study can be found below: