Title:Development and Validation of a Simple, Fast, and Accessible HPLC-UV
Method for Cannabinoids Determination in Cannabis sativa L. Extracts and
Medicinal Oils
Volume: 29
Issue: 24
Author(s): Fresia Melina Silva Sofrás, Rosario Alonso, Daiana Sabrina Retta, Paola Di Leo Lira, Martin Federico Desimone*Catalina María van Baren*
Affiliation:
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco [IQUIMEFA], CONICET - Universidad de
Buenos Aires, Junín 956, C.A. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Ciencias
Químicas, Cátedra de Química Analítica Instrumental, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín
956, C.A. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco [IQUIMEFA], CONICET - Universidad de
Buenos Aires, Junín 956, C.A. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Farmacología, Cátedra de Farmacognosia, Facultad
de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, C.A. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
Keywords:
Cannabinoids, CBD, cannabis oil, HPLC method, tetrahydrocannabinol acid, Cannabis sativa L.
Abstract:
Introduction: Cannabis sativa L. is a well-recognized medicinal plant. Cannabis regulations in Argentina
are insufficient to solve the problem of patient access to full-spectrum cannabis-based products. So, the
market of artisanal products with unknown quality and dosage of cannabinoids is increasing, and so is the local
demand and need for analyzing these products. However, much of the latest validated methodologies for cannabinoid
quantification include expensive instrumentation that is not always available in laboratories of health institutions
in Argentina.
Methods: The aim of this work was to develop and validate a simple and rapid HPLC-UV method for the identification
and quantification of principal cannabinoids in cannabis resins, inflorescences, and medicinal oils using
standard HPLC equipment. The cannabinoids selected for validation were cannabidiol acid (CBDA), cannabigerol
(CBG), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), cannabichromene
(CBC), and tetrahydrocannabinol acid (THCA). A method for the simultaneous identification and
quantification of these 7 main cannabinoids was developed and then validated. Some data parameters were comparable
to other reports with more sophisticated analytical instruments for the analysis of cannabis. The assessed
limits of detection and the limits of quantitation ranged from 0.9 to 3.66 μg/mL and 2.78 to 11.09
μg/mL, respectively. The concentration-response relationship of the method indicated a linear relationship between
the concentration and peak area with R2 values of > 0.99 for all 7 cannabinoids.
Results: The relative standard deviation (RSD%) varied from 2.34 to 4.82 for intraday repeatability and from
1.16 to 3.15 for interday repeatability. The percentage of recovery values was between 94 to 115% (resins) and
80 to 103% (inflorescence extract). The cannabis industry is growing rapidly, and there is a need for reliable
testing methods to ensure the safety and efficacy of cannabis products. In addition, current methods for cannabinoid
analysis are often time-consuming and expensive, while the HPLC-UV method herein reported is a simple,
rapid, accurate, and cost-effective alternative for the analysis of cannabinoids in cannabis resins, inflorescences,
and medicinal oils.
Conclusion: This method will be proposed to be included in the Cannabis sativa L. monograph of the Argentine
Pharmacopoeia.
