Production of protein hydrolysates from hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seed and its protective effects against dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seeds, historically valued for their nutritional and medicinal properties, have recently garnered attention due to their high contents of proteins including edestin and albumin. This study aimed to investigate effects of hemp seed protein hydrolysates (HPH) on dexamethasone (DEX)-induced muscle atrophy using both in vitro and in vivo models. Peeled hemp seeds were processed to extract oil, isolate proteins, and produce HPH through enzymatic hydrolysis using alcalase and flavourzyme. The degree of protein hydrolysis, molecular weight distribution, and amino acid composition were determined using HPLC and TNBS assay. Results revealed that HPH had an increased content of branched chain amino acids compared to the protein isolates and promoted myotube formation in C2C12 myoblasts. In mice treated with DEX, HPH treatment led to recovery of muscle mass and strength with normalized muscle fiber size distribution. These protective effects of HPH were associated with upregulation of myogenic proteins, downregulation of muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases, and modulation of PI3K/AKT signaling. Findings of the current study suggest that HPH could mitigate muscle atrophy potentially by modulating muscle protein degradation pathways, offering a promising natural intervention for muscle health.