Hemp Seed (Cannabis sativa L.) Varieties: Lipids Profile and Antioxidant Capacity for Monogastric Nutrition.

Simple Summary: The European Union is working towards a sustainable future by implementing strategies to guide the agricultural transition towards fairer, healthier, and more environmentally friendly food systems, increasing their profitability and sustainability. As a result, food producers are looking for different and stronger products. (Cannabis sativa L.), due to its distinctive nutritional profile, can be considered an interesting and promising alternative resource for agriculture in human and animal nutrition. In this study, the proximate composition, fatty acid profile, antioxidant activity, total phenolic and N-trans-Caffeoyltyramine content were studied on three hemp varieties (Carmaenecta, Enectaliana, and Enectarol) grown in Central Italy. Enectarol had the highest total lipid content and the best antioxidant activity; Carmaenecta showed the best fatty acid profile and nutritional indices, and Enectaliana showed the highest crude protein and dietary fiber content. All the varieties revealed a high content of essential fatty acids (linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid) and oleic acid. In conclusion, the results highlight that hemp seeds can be used in the food industry as a source of oil and protein and as a supplement in feed mixtures for the valuable antioxidant activity and fatty acid profile, promoting better health in farm animals. The present research aimed to study the proximate composition, fatty acid profile, antiox-idant activity, total phenolic and N-trans-Caffeoyltyramine content of three distinct varieties of hemp seeds (Carmaenecta, Enectaliana and Enectarol, grown in a Mediterranean area (Central Italy), as feed in the diet of farm animals. Proximate composition was determined using the official methods of analyses; the fatty acid profile was determined by gas chromatography, total phenolic content (TPC) and the scavenging activity (DPPH• and ABTS•+) by the colorimetric method, and N-trans-Caffeoyltyramine content by HPLC analysis. The hemp seed Enectarol showed the highest total lipid content and the best antioxidant activity with the highest TPC, N-trans-Caffeoyltyramine content, and ABTS•+, and the lowest peroxidation index and DPPH•; Carmaenecta showed the best fatty acid profile and nutritional indices (atherogenic and thrombogenic indices and hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio), and Enectaliana showed the highest crude protein and dietary fiber content. The differences observed in the chemical composition, fatty acid profile and antioxidant activity are because of the varieties, considering that all other growing conditions were the same. The results obtained suggest that hemp seed can be used as a source of lipid and protein in animal diets due to their valuable antioxidant activity and as a rich source of essential fatty acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]