Cannabis usage has revealed potential allergies to some plant components, including hemp seed. Hemp seeds do not, however, contain any well known significant allergens.
Hemp seed allergies study
Researchers looked at the potential allergies caused by storage proteins found in hemp seed. They also tested how they responded to different seeds and nuts.
Analysis found a link between allergy to hemp seed extract and allergy to hazelnuts. The extract was enriched in storage proteins. The ELISA inhibition results showed that serum IgE binding to hazelnut extract was inhibited by about 25–30% when hazelnut-allergic sera were incubated with increasing doses of the extract. This finding further strengthened the possibility of cross-reactivity between hazelnut and hemp seed proteins.
The research identified vicilins and edestins as possible agents cauding allergies in hemp seed. A protein called vicilin defends plants from fungus and other microorganisms. As known, it can be an allergen in reactions to pea allergies. Most commonly present in hemp seeds, edestin is a legumin protein.
Thus, study emphasizes a potential cross-reactivity between hemp seed and hazelnut. Moreover, it identifies potential allergens within hemp seeds. For people who are allergic to hemp seeds as well as other seeds and nuts, the results of this study may be valuable in the development of diagnostic tools and allergen-specific immunotherapies.
It is worth noting that easy access to hemp materials will facilitate research and lead to safety increase.