Phenolic profiles of non‐industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seed varieties collected from four different Moroccan regions

Summary This study aims to characterise the seeds of two varieties (Beldia and Critical) of hemp grown in four geographical areas of northern Morocco regarding their phenolic compounds and antioxidant power. Thirty‐three phenolic compounds were identified using the HPLC‐DAD/ESI‐MS 2 technique. The phenolic profiles of hemp seeds of all varieties from all regions were characterised by their richness in N‐trans ‐caffeoyltyramine (390.22–721.41 μg g −1 ), cannabisin A (217.96–393.37 μg CTE g −1 ) and cannabisin B (195.25–331.28 μg CTE g −1 ). The antioxidant activities (expressed as IC 50 and EC 50 values) were 1.83–4.14, 1.64–4.37, 2.45–6.02, 2.65–9.29 and 1.75–4.37 mg mL −1 of extract for the TAC, DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC and FRAP tests respectively. A two‐way analysis of variance showed that phenolic compounds' content was mainly related to the geographical location and its interaction with the genotype factor. Multivariate analysis showed that hemp seeds from the Jebha and Galaz regions were characterised by a high level of phenolic compounds and a potent antioxidant activity compared to Tamorot and Ratba regions. This characterisation constitutes an interesting database for breeders to create new varieties that meet fluctuating expectations of the cannabis industry.