Quantitative analysis of cannabinoids in Cannabis sativa L. plants grown in Lithuania using gas chromatography

Abstract

Canabis products (marijuana, hashish, cannabis oil) are the most frequently abused illegal substances worldwide. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive component of Cannabis sativa L. plant, whereas cannabidiol (CBD) is other major but no pychoactive constituents. The determination of these compounds is interesting from forensic and medicinal points of view. The aim of the study is to develop a GC method for the quantitative analysis of THC and CBD presented in aerial pats of fiber hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), collected from different regions in Lithuania. Method. All plant samples were dried and crushed. 0.2 g of each sample was extracted with 10 ml of the mixture methanol/chloroform (90:10, v/v). The samples were agitated in an ultrasonic batch to liberate cannabinoids and then centrifuged. 1.0 μL aliquot of the all samples and standards was injected and quantitatively analyzed by using SHIMADZU GC-2010 PLUS gas chromatograph consisting of an Rxi-5 MS capillary column (30 m length, 0.25 mm inner diameter). The oven temperature was programmed at 80°C for 1 min, followed by increase to 250°C at rate of 10°C/min, then 30°C/min to 310°C and held constant for 7 min. The injector and the detector temperature wer maintained at 290°C and 330°C, respectively. Helium was used as carrier gas at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The results of cannabinoids were expressed in percentages. [...].