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Hemp is probably one of the most studied plants for its health-promoting properties, with countless documented and patented extraction methods, but literature is scarce on the simultaneous extraction of mixture of raw materials. Hemp, along with other plant materials, could represent a potentially highly valuable source material with resulting reciprocal effects. In this study, hemp (Cannabis sativa) and three members of the Zingiberaceae family, ginger (Zingiber officinale), turmeric (Curcuma longa), and cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum), were extracted simultaneously, and their bioactive component values were investigated. Two extraction methods were used, namely ultrasound-assisted extraction with ethanol and supercritical fluid extraction with carbon dioxide. First, extracts were obtained from separate plant materials. Then, hemp was extracted in combination with ginger, turmeric, and cardamom in a 1:1 ratio. The extracts obtained were evaluated for their antioxidant activity and total phenolic content using UV/VIS spectrophotometry; cannabinoid content, 6-gingerol, and 6-shogaol were measured using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS); volatile components such as 1,8-cineole, alpha-terpinyl acetate, linalool, and aR-turmerone were measured using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC/MS).

Proper processing of natural material is crucial to obtain an extract with high content of biologically active components. Dried, grinded ginger roots were extracted by ultrasonic method and supercritical extraction with CO2. The aim of the study was to determine if a mixture of the two types of extracts attained by different methods and solvents exhibits better bioavailability than each extract itself. Therefore, both extracts were analytically evaluated and then mixed in a ratio of 1:1. The supercritical extract (SCG extract) and the mixed extract (mixG extract) had high antioxidant activity (78% and 73%) and total phenols (827 mg/g ext. and 1455 mg/g ext.), which is also consistent with the levels of gingerol (303 mg/g ext. and 271 g/g ext.) and shogaol (111 mg/g ext. and 100 g/g ext.) in the extracts. In comparison to both pure extracts higher levels of total phenols were found in the extract mixG. This could be the reason for the significant inhibition of melanoma cells and antimicrobial potential (against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans). The combination of the extracts resulted in a significant increase in the inhibition of selected microbial and melanoma cells WM-266-4 compared to the control. Cell viability decreased below 60% when mixG extract was applied. Antimicrobial activity has been confirmed.

Natural medicines and products are becoming increasingly important in the pharmaceutical and food industries. The most important step in obtaining a natural remedy is the processing of the natural material. This study offers the separation of the industrial hemp plant into fractions by mechanical treatment, which has a significant impact on the selectivity of the obtained fractions. This study also offers a solution to reduce waste by fractionating industrial hemp, focusing on the fraction with the highest cannabinoid content (49.5% of CBD). The study confirmed the anticancer potential of the extract, which prevents further division of WM-266-4 melanoma cells at a concentration of 10−3 mg/mL. However, application of the extract (c = 10−3 mg/mL) to normal human epidermal melanocytes proved to be insignificant, as the metabolic activity of the cells was the same as in the control cell group.