Antioxidant and Bioactive Properties of a Biopolymeric Matrix from Hemp Seed Waste: An Application as a Scavenger of Reactive Oxygen Species in Viscosupplements

A biopolymer-enriched matrix from hempseed waste (BMH extract) was extracted using hot water and characterized. Biochemical assays pointed out that the BMH extract contained carbohydrates, proteins, and phenols in different percentages, while NMR spectroscopy and monosaccharide analysis revealed starch as the dominant polysaccharide. The BMH extract showed biocompatibility and a stimulatory effect on fibroblast viability. Its antioxidant activity in biochemical and cellular assays was comparable to that of a known potent antioxidant. The BMH extract was added to a hyaluronic acid (HA) solution and exposed to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Rheological measurements on these samples showed that the extract provided protection from ROS-driven polysaccharide degradation, suggesting an application as a scavenger in HA-based viscosupplements. Overall, these results support using of hemp seed waste-derived matrices (either as such or as additives in biomaterials) for biomedical applications characterized by inflammation and oxidative stress to mitigate the negative effects associated with these conditions.