Journal:Leaner and greener analysis of cannabinoids
| Full article title | Leaner and greener analysis of cannabinoids |
|---|---|
| Journal | Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry |
| Author(s) | Mudge, Elizabeth M.; Murch, Susan J.; Browb, Paula N. |
| Author affiliation(s) | British Columbia Institute of Technology, University of British Columbia |
| Primary contact | Email: Paula underscore brown at bcit dot ca |
| Year published | 2017 |
| Volume and issue | 409(12) |
| Page(s) | 3153–63 |
| DOI | 10.1007/s00216-017-0256-3 |
| ISSN | 1618-2650 |
| Distribution license | Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International |
| Website | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00216-017-0256-3 |
| Download | https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs00216-017-0256-3.pdf (PDF) |
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Abstract
There is an explosion in the number of labs analyzing cannabinoids in marijuana (Cannabis sativa L., Cannabaceae); however, existing methods are inefficient, require expert analysts, and use large volumes of potentially environmentally damaging solvents. The objective of this work was to develop and validate an accurate method for analyzing cannabinoids in cannabis raw materials and finished products that is more efficient and uses fewer toxic solvents. A method using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode-array detection (DAD) was developed for eight cannabinoids in Cannabis flowers and oils using a statistically guided optimization plan based on the principles of green chemistry. A single-laboratory validation determined the linearity, selectivity, accuracy, repeatability, intermediate precision, limit of detection, and limit of quantitation of the method. Amounts of individual cannabinoids above the limit of quantitation in the flowers ranged from 0.02 to 14.9% concentration (w/w), with repeatability ranging from 0.78 to 10.08% relative standard deviation. The intermediate precision determined using Horwitz ratios (HorRat) ranged from 0.3 to 2.0. The limits of quantitation (LoQs) for individual cannabinoids in flowers ranged from 0.02 to 0.17% w/w. This is a significant improvement over previous methods and is suitable for a wide range of applications, including regulatory compliance, clinical studies, direct patient medical services, and commercial suppliers.
Keywords: green chemistry, single-laboratory validation, Cannabis, cannabinoids, medical marijuana
Introduction
The modern cannabis market is in a period of dramatic flux. In the United States, cannabis is classified as a Schedule I drug[1]; however, eight U.S. states have legalized marijuana for recreational use, and 28 states have allowed medical marijuana on the basis of evidence of anxiolytic, analgesic, sedative, anticancer, and appetite stimulation effects.[2][3][4][5] Regulations regarding Cannabis spp. vary globally. The Netherlands, Uruguay, and Portugal have decriminalized possession. In Canada, cannabis is a Schedule II controlled substance, but regulations have allowed production for medical purposes through licensed producers and personal production licenses.[6] Canadian production of commercial products must take place in a facility using good manufacturing practices, and products must be assayed for the presence and quantity of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), using validated analytical methods.[6] In total, more than 100 cannabinoids in 11 subclasses have been characterized in cannabis and are concentrated in the glandular trichomes of the female inflorescences. Other cannabinoid classes include cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), and cannabinol (CBN) (Fig. 1).[7] The cannabinoids occur primarily in acid form, with neutral cannabinoids formed during drying, storage, and decarboxylation during smoking. Δ9-THC, the main psychoactive cannabinoid, can be over 20% by weight in specially bred cannabis strains.[8][9] CBD, known for its anti-inflammatory activity and antagonism of Δ9-THC-induced anxiety, can range from below 0.5% up to 6.5% by weight.[9][10]
Acknowledgements
Author contributions
Funding
Conflicts of interest
References
- ↑ Lamarine, R.J. (2012). "Marijuana: Modern medical chimaera". Journal of Drug Education 42 (1): 1–11. doi:10.2190/DE.42.1.a. PMID 22873011.
- ↑ Porter, B.E.; Jacobson, C. (2013). "Report of a parent survey of cannabidiol-enriched cannabis use in pediatric treatment-resistant epilepsy". Epilepsy & Behavior 29 (3): 574–7. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2013.08.037. PMC PMC4157067. PMID 24237632. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4157067.
- ↑ Tafelski, S.; Häuser, W.; Schäfer, M. (2016). "Efficacy, tolerability, and safety of cannabinoids for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting--a systematic review of systematic reviews". Schmerz 30 (1): 14–24. doi:10.1007/s00482-015-0092-3. PMID 26787227.
- ↑ Whiting, P.F.; Wolff, R.F.; Deshpande, S. et al. (2015). "Cannabinoids for Medical Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis". JAMA 313 (24): 2456–73. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.6358. PMID 26103030.
- ↑ Bagshaw, S.M.; Hagen, N.A. (2002). "Medical efficacy of cannabinoids and marijuana: A comprehensive review of the literature". Journal of Palliative Care 18 (2): 111–22. doi:10.1177/082585970201800207. PMID 12164099.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Government of Canada (2016). "Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (SOR/2016-230)". Justice Laws Website. https://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-2016-230/.
- ↑ Mahlberg, P.G.; Kim, E.S. (2004). "Accumulation of Cannabinoids in Glandular Trichomes of Cannabis (Cannabaceae)". Journal of Industrial Hemp 9 (1): 15–36. doi:10.1300/J237v09n01_04.
- ↑ Brenneisen, R. (2007). "Chapter 2: Chemistry and Analysis of Phytocannabinoids and Other Cannabis Constituents". In ElSohly, M.A.. Marijuana and the Cannabinoids. Humana Press. pp. 17–49. doi:10.1007/978-1-59259-947-9. ISBN 9781592599479.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Swift, W.; Wong, A.; Li, K.M. et al. (2013). "Analysis of cannabis seizures in NSW, Australia: Cannabis potency and cannabinoid profile". PLoS One 8 (7): e70052. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0070052. PMC PMC3722200. PMID 23894589. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3722200.
- ↑ Zuardi, A.W.; Shirakawa, I.; Finkelfarb, E. et al. (1982). "Action of cannabidiol on the anxiety and other effects produced by delta 9-THC in normal subjects". Psychopharmacology 76 (3): 245–50. PMID 6285406.
Notes
This presentation is faithful to the original, with only a few minor changes to presentation. Some grammar and punctuation was cleaned up to improve readability. In some cases important information was missing from the references, and that information was added.
