Solvent-based extraction, characterization, antiproliferative activity, and formulation stability of bioactive compounds from Tiborszallasi hemp

A low-pressure solvent extraction procedure was developed and optimized for the simultaneous recovery of cannabinoids and terpenes from the Tiborszallasi cultivar of Cannabis sativa L. Using a comparative solvent approach, extraction with a binary hexane: ethanol mixture (7:3, v/v) at 25 °C yielded an extract from leaves and flowers (Tibi1) with the highest total cannabinoid content (74.08%) and a terpene fraction dominated by sesquiterpenes (73.7%), whereas monoterpenes accounted for 26.3%. In contrast, extraction performed with methanol at − 55 °C yielded an extract (Tibi2) containing 69.31% cannabinoids and exhibiting a distinct terpene profile characterized by a higher proportion of monoterpenes (41.9%) and a lower proportion of sesquiterpenes (58.01%). These results indicate that solvent polarity and extraction temperature can be used to modulate the cannabinoid-terpene profile within a single hemp cultivar. In vitro antiproliferative assays of Tibi1 and Tibi2 demonstrated their ability to inhibit the growth of lung, gastric, colon, and breast cancer cells at concentrations that were non-toxic to normal human breast epithelial cells. In leukemia and triple-negative breast cancer cells, non-monotonic dose–response relationships were observed. Furthermore, stability studies revealed that, among the tested oil-based matrices, formulations based on medium-chain triglyceride oil provided comparatively better retention of bioactive compounds under the evaluated conditions.