Determination of cannabinoids in hair of CBD rich extracts consumers using gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS-MS)

External hair contamination from cannabis and "light cannabis" delivered by smoking and vaping: An in vitro study

External contamination of hair by cannabis smoking requires a careful evaluation in forensic toxicology. Medical and recreational cannabis are increasingly consumed by e-cigarettes, which give rise to side-stream vapor. Moreover, products containing low Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and rich in cannabidiol (CBD) started spreading legally. The goal of the present study was to assess whether hair analysis could allow to distinguish the type of delivered product, with low or high Δ9-THC, and the delivering mode, by smoking or vaping. Contamination of blank hair was mimicked by in vitro exposure to low- (0.4%) and high-Δ9-THC (9.7%) products delivered by smoking and vaping within a small confined system. Cannabis vaping extracts were prepared to deliver identical target Δ9-THC doses. Eighty samples were analyzed by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry and quantified for Δ9-THC and CBD. After contamination by cannabis smoking, THC levels were in line with past in vitro and in vivo studies. Samples exposed to cannabis (169.30 ng/mg) showed significantly higher Δ9-THC than hair exposed to "light cannabis" (35.54 ng/mg), and the opposite was seen for the CBD/Δ9-THC ratio. Hair contaminated by vaping or smoking did not show a statistically different Δ9-THC content. Under our in vitro conditions, hair analysis might allow to discriminate whether external contamination is determined by products containing low or high Δ9-THC, but not the delivering mode. More research is needed in real-life conditions, to see whether the same also applies to the interpretation of forensic casework.

Analytical method validation for assay determination of cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol in hemp oil infused products by RP-HPLC

A simple quantitative reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method has been developed and validated for assay determination of cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol in hemp oil infused products. The RP-HPLC method was developed and optimized for the mobile phase composition, flow rate, column selection and detector wavelength. An isocratic elution of samples were performed on SOLAS 100 Å C18 150 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm column with a mobile phase containing 75/25 acetonitrile/water v/v, with a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min by using an ultraviolet–visible (UV/Vis) detector operating at 214 nm. The RP-HPLC method was validated to meet regulatory requirements which covers specificity, accuracy, range, linearity, precision, system suitability and robustness. The validated assay test method was applied successfully to quantify cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol in commercial hemp oil infused products such as tablets, soft gel capsules, plant extract oils, oral drops, tincture, and beverage enhancers. All the test results were found acceptable as per ICH guidelines, and this confirmed the feasibility of this method for its intended use in regular quality control and assay of cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol in hemp oil infused products.

Very Fast RP–UHPLC–PDA Method for Identification and Quantification of the Cannabinoids from Hemp Oil

In recent years, hemp oils have become ubiquitous in health products on the European market. As the trend continues to grow and more cannabinoids are researched for their therapeutic benefits, more academic and industrial interests are drawn to this direction. Cannabidiol, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, and their acidic forms remain the most examined cannabinoids in hemp and cannabis oils, in the case of cannabidiol due to its proven health implications in numerous articles, and in the case of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, due to the legislation in the European area. These oils sold on the internet contain a wide range of cannabinoids that could demonstrate their effects and benefits. As a result of these claims, we developed a robust and rapid method that can identify and quantify 10 of the most common cannabinoids found in hemp oils: cannabivarin, cannabidiolic acid, cannabigerolic acid, cannabigerol, cannabidiol, cannabinol, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabichromene, and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid in less than 11 min, with reverse-phase–high-performance liquid chromatography–photodiode matrix system (RP–UHPLC–PDA) equipped with C18 column, eluting in a gradient using water and acetonitrile with formic acid as mobile phases. The quantification of 9 sample products presented in different matrixes was performed using a calibration curve obtained by analyzing standard solutions from a 10-cannabinoid-mix-certified reference standard. The developed method demonstrated the ability to identify and quantify the main cannabinoids in hemp oil and is a useful tool for pharmaceutical professionals.

Characterization of Cannabidiol in Alternative Biological Specimens and Urine, After Consumption of an Oral Capsule

Among the hundred cannabinoids present in cannabis sativa indica, cannabidiol is a phytocannabinoid discovered in 1940, which can account for up to 40 % of the plant's extract. Medically, it has been proposed to treat convulsions, inflammation, anxiety and nausea. Contrary to the hallucinogenic ingredient of the plant, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol does not seem to have a sedative effect, which can increase its popularity among users. The identification of cannabidiol in blood and urine has been widely described in the scientific literature for several years. Only few data after cannabis use has been reported regarding cannabidiol identification in alternative specimens, such as oral fluid, sweat, exhaled breath and hair. Cannabidiol capsules were purchased in the United States, from a grocery store and a green capsule containing 22 mg of cannabidiol was orally administered to a 59-year-old healthy man. Oral fluid was collected over 8 hours using the NeoSal™ device. Sweat was collected with PharmCheck™ sweat patch technology over 7 days. Exhaled breath was collected with the ExaBreath® DrugTrap device over 8 hours. Beard hair was collected 7 and 14 days after administration. Finally, urine specimens were collected over 48 hours in plastic tubes without preservative. Cannabidiol was only detected in oral fluid at 15 minutes, at 20 pg/mL. Increasing concentrations, up to 96 pg/patch of cannabidiol, were detected in the sweat patches. Cannabidiol was detected during 45 minutes in exhaled breath (Cmax 302 pg/filter at 30 minutes). Cannabidiol produced a very low but significant chromatographic signal in beard hair, with concentrations lower than 1 pg/mg. Finally, cannabidiol tested positive in urine after enzymatic hydrolysis with a Cmax at 70 ng/mL, after 6 hours.

Emerging challenges in the extraction, analysis and bioanalysis of cannabidiol and related compounds

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a bioactive terpenophenolic compound isolated from Cannabis sativa L. It is known to possess several properties of pharmaceutical interest, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, neuroprotective and anti-convulsant, being it active as a multi-target compound. From a therapeutic point of view, CBD is most commonly used for seizure disorder in children. CBD is present in both medical and fiber-type C. sativa plants, but, unlike Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), it is a non-psychoactive compound. Non-psychoactive or fiber-type C. sativa (also known as hemp) differs from the medical one, since it contains only low levels of THC and high levels of CBD and related non-psychoactive cannabinoids. In addition to medical Cannabis, which is used for many different therapeutic purposes, a great expansion of the market of hemp plant material and related products has been observed in recent years, due to its usage in many fields, including food, cosmetics and electronic cigarettes liquids (commonly known as e-liquids). In this view, this work is focused on recent advances on sample preparation strategies and analytical methods for the chemical analysis of CBD and related compounds in both C. sativa plant material, its derived products and biological samples. Since sample preparation is considered to be a crucial step in the development of reliable analytical methods for the determination of natural compounds in complex matrices, different extraction methods are discussed. As regards the analysis of CBD and related compounds, the application of both separation and non-separation methods is discussed in detail. The advantages, disadvantages and applicability of the different methodologies currently available are evaluated. The scientific interest in the development of portable devices for the reliable analysis of CBD in vegetable and biological samples is also highlighted.

Using Sesame Seed Oil to Preserve and Preconcentrate Cannabinoids for Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry

Cannabinoids present a unique set of analytical challenges. An increasing number of states have voted to decriminalize recreational marijuana use, creating a need for new kinds of rapid testing. At the same time, synthetic compounds with activity similar to THC, termed synthetic cannabinoids, have become more prevalent and pose significant health risks. A rapid method capable of detecting both natural and synthetic cannabinoids would be useful in cases of driving under the influence of drugs, where it might not be obvious whether the suspect consumed marijuana, a synthetic cannabinoid, or both. Paper spray mass spectrometry is an ambient ionization technique which allows for the direct ionization of analyte from a biofluid spot on a piece of paper. Natural cannabinoids like THC, however, are labile and rapidly disappear from dried sample spots, making it difficult to detect them at clinically relevant levels. Presented here is a method to concentrate and preserve THC and synthetic cannabinoids in urine and oral fluid on paper for analysis by paper spray mass spectrometry. Sesame seed oil was investigated both as a means of preserving THC and as part of a technique, termed paper strip extraction, wherein urine or oral fluid is flowed through an oil spot on a strip of paper to preconcentrate cannabinoids. This technique preserved THC in dried biofluid samples for at least 27 days at room temperature; paper spray MS/MS analysis of these preserved dried spots was capable of detecting THC and synthetic cannabinoids at low ng/mL concentrations, making it suitable as a rapid screening technique. The technique was adapted to be used with a commercially available autosampler.

Gas chromatographic analysis of naturally occurring cannabinoids: A review of literature published during the past decade

INTRODUCTION

Cannabinoids are organic compounds, natural or synthetic, that bind to the cannabinoid receptors and have similar pharmacological properties as produced by the cannabis plant, Cannabis sativa. Gas chromatography (GC), e.g. gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), is a popular analytical tool that has been used extensively to analyse cannabinoids in various matrices.

OBJECTIVE

To review published literature on the use of various GC-based analytical methods for the analysis of naturally occurring cannabinoids published during the past decade.

METHODOLOGY

A comprehensive literature search was performed utilising several databases, like Web of Knowledge, PubMed and Google Scholar, and other relevant published materials including published books. The keywords used, in various combinations, with cannabinoids being present in all combinations, in the search were cannabinoids, Cannabis sativa, marijuana, analysis, GC, quantitative, qualitative and quality control.

RESULTS

During the past decade, several GC-based methods for the analysis of cannabinoids have been reported. While simple one-dimensional (1D) GC-MS and GC-FID (flame ionisation detector) methods were found to be quite common in cannabinoids analysis, two-dimensional (2D) GC-MS as well as GC-MS/MS also were popular because of their ability to provide more useful data for identification and quantification of cannabinoids in various matrices. Some degree of automation in sample preparation, and applications of mathematical and computational models for optimisation of different protocols were observed, and pre-analyses included various derivatisation techniques, and environmentally friendly extraction protocols.

CONCLUSIONS

GC-based analysis of naturally occurring cannabinoids, especially using GC-MS, has dominated the cannabinoids analysis in the last decade; new derivatisation methods, new ionisation methods, and mathematical models for method optimisation have been introduced.

Fast Detection of 10 Cannabinoids by RP-HPLC-UV Method in Cannabis sativa L

Cannabis has regained much attention as a result of updated legislation authorizing many different uses and can be classified on the basis of the content of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychotropic substance for which there are legal limitations in many countries. For this purpose, accurate qualitative and quantitative determination is essential. The relationship between THC and cannabidiol (CBD) is also significant as the latter substance is endowed with many specific and non-psychoactive proprieties. For these reasons, it becomes increasingly important and urgent to utilize fast, easy, validated, and harmonized procedures for determination of cannabinoids. The procedure described herein allows rapid determination of 10 cannabinoids from the inflorescences of Cannabis sativa L. by extraction with organic solvents. Separation and subsequent detection are by RP-HPLC-UV. Quantification is performed by an external standard method through the construction of calibration curves using pure standard chromatographic reference compounds. The main cannabinoids dosed (g/100 g) in actual samples were cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), CBD, and Δ9-THC (Sample L11 CBDA 0.88 ± 0.04, CBD 0.48 ± 0.02, Δ9-THC 0.06 ± 0.00; Sample L5 CBDA 0.93 ± 0.06, CBD 0.45 ± 0.03, Δ9-THC 0.06 ± 0.00). The present validated RP-HPLC-UV method allows determination of the main cannabinoids in Cannabis sativa L. inflorescences and appropriate legal classification as hemp or drug-type.