Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
H
2
COH
HCOR
HCOH
H
2
COH
HCOR
HCOH
H
2
COH
H
3
CO
OH
OCH
3
O
CH
HCOH
H
2
COH
O
H
2
COH
CH
H
3
CO
HOH
2
C-CH-CHO
O
O
CH
HC
H
2
C
CH
HCOH
R
2
R
1
HC
CH
1
H
2
COH
CH
H
2
COH
8
HC
H
3
CO
CH
2
HO
OH
O
H
2
COH
OCH
3
O
CH
HCOH
H
3
CO
O
HCOH
HC
OCH
3
7
HCOH
gaiacyl units (G):
R
1,2
=H; R
2,1
=OCH
3
2
O
H
2
COH
H
3
CO
H
2
COH
9
H
3
CO
HC
O
O
CH
OCH
3
H
3
CO
HCOH
HC
O
syringyl units (S):
R
1
=R
2
=OCH
3
H
2
COH
3
H
2
COH
H
3
CO
OCH
3
HC
HC
HC
HCOH
O
O
p-
hydroxyphenyl units (H):
R
1
=R
2
=H
4
H
2
COH
H
2
COH
H
3
CO
OCH
3
O
CH
HC
C
=
O
O
HCOH
5
6
H
3
CO
OCH
3
OH
OH
Fig. 3.9.
Structure of lignin and its constituent monomers. The different bonds found among lignins are
represented by the sets (1,2) and (9,3):
α
-,
β
-
O
-4 benzyl-aryl- and alkyl-aryl-ethers; (3,4)
β
-5
phenylcoumaran; (5,6): 5-5
′
biphenyl; (7,8):
β
-1 diarylpropane. The (1,2) and (9,3) arrangements are the
most common (approximately 40-50% of the bonds) (from Kurek, 1992).
Products derived from Cannabis fruit
these major constituents, there are a number
of minor substances derived from secondary
metabolic processes. These include terpenes,
sterols, tocopherols and minerals (Kriese
et al
.,
2004).
To the best of our knowledge, there is no
information available concerning the polysac-
charides found in hemp achenes. In fact, the
protective tissues (testa and pericarp) enclose
the same parietal polymers found within hemp
fibres, together with the constituents of cell
membranes (Esau, 1977). The hemp residue
recovered following oil extraction contains
15% lignin (gravimetric measurement) and
40% structural polysaccharides (cellulose and
hemicellulose) (Mustafa
et al
., 1999). These
approximations reflect the global composition
of the seed and its husk. We have seen no
report of starch in hemp seed and the nature of
The fruit of
C. sativa
are known as akenes (or
achenes). The embryo is protected by a hard
envelope consisting of the testa (embryonic
membrane) and the pericarp (fruit membrane)
(see the chapter on taxonomy and botanical
descriptions). The seed contains variable quan-
tities of polysaccharides, lipids and proteins
that will meet the needs of the developing
embryo until it is able to photosynthesize.
The achenes are used as animal feed or
for the production of oil. A protein-rich flour is
produced as a by-product of the oil extraction
process and is used as animal feed. The hard
fruit envelopes can be used as stuffing materi-
als (Molleken and Theimer, 1997).
Hemp achenes contain 25-35% lipids,
20-25% proteins and 20-30% carbohydrates,
of which 10-15% are fibres. In addition to
