Exploring the vigorous prebiotic potential of hemp bran, an untapped by-product of hemp seed processing industry

Despite the growing interest in hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), resulting from nutritional properties of its seeds and the agronomic advantages of its cultivation, hemp bran is totally unexplored. This investigation is part of the project "Process for the exploitation of hemp (Cannabis sativa) seed by-products, to obtain innovative ingredients for health-promoting functional foods, dietary supplements, and cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations" funded by the University of Bologna (AlmaIDEA). The project concerns the study of bran coming from the hemp processing industry. Enzymatic, fungal and bacterial bran protein hydrolysates are in vitro studied for their antioxidant and antihypertensive properties and for their impact on the human intestinal microbiota. Process scale-up tests are also provided for a possible application of the protocols, on an industrial scale. The present work concerns the preparation of hemp bran microbial protein hydrolysates in order to evaluate bioactive properties and prebiotic potential.