Cannabis sativa L. Inflorescences from Monoecious Cultivars Grown in Central Italy: An Untargeted Chemical Characterization from Early Flowering to Ripening.

Cinzia Ingallina,Simone Carradori,Silvia Di Giacomo,Deborah Quaglio,Caterina Fraschetti,Mattia Spano,Donatella Capitani,Giuliana Vinci,Anatoly P Sobolev,Luisa Mannina,Giulia Mazzoccanti,Simone Circi,Marcello Locatelli,Antonello Filippi,Enio Campiglia,Francesca Ghirga,Antonella Di Sotto,Anna Maria Giusti,Bruno Botta,Salvatore Ciano,Francesco Gasparrini

doi:10.3390/molecules25081908

Abstract

The chemical composition of the inflorescences from four Cannabis sativa L. monoecious cultivars (Ferimon, Uso-31, Felina 32 and Fedora 17), recently introduced in the Lazio Region, was monitored over the season from June to September giving indications on their sensorial, pharmaceutical/nutraceutical proprieties. Both untargeted (NMR) and targeted (GC/MS, UHPLC, HPLC-PDA/FD and spectrophotometry) analyses were carried out to identify and quantify compounds of different classes (sugars, organic acids, amino acids, cannabinoids, terpenoids, phenols, tannins, flavonoids and biogenic amines). All cultivars in each harvesting period showed a THC content below the Italian legal limit, although in general THC content increased over the season. Citric acid, malic acid and glucose showed the highest content in the late flowering period, whereas the content of proline drastically decreased after June in all cultivars. Neophytadiene, nerolidol and chlorogenic acid were quantified only in Felina 32 cultivar, characterized also by a very high content of flavonoids, whereas alloaromadendrene and trans-cinnamic acid were detected only in Uso-31 cultivar. Naringenin and naringin were present only in Fedora 17 and Ferimon cultivars, respectively. Moreover, Ferimon had the highest concentration of biogenic amines, especially in July and August. Cadaverine was present in all cultivars but only in September. These results suggest that the chemical composition of Cannabis sativa L. inflorescences depends on the cultivar and on the harvesting period. Producers can use this information as a guide to obtain inflorescences with peculiar chemical characteristics according to the specific use.

Highlights

Industrial hemp, a Cannabis sativa L. chemotype with a low content of the psychoactive∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), has been traditionally cultivated around the world, especially in Europe, due to its adaptability in a wide range of habitats and its countless properties and uses.it has been exploited as a source of textile fibers for the production of dresses, fishing nets, paper, canvas and as a food source
A partial assignment of the inflorescence NMR spectra is available in literature [23,24]
A more complete assignment (Table 1) of the 1 H-NMR spectra of the hydroalcoholic extracts from Cannabis sativa L. inflorescences was reported allowing the identification of different classes of compounds

Summary

Introduction

∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), has been traditionally cultivated around the world, especially in Europe, due to its adaptability in a wide range of habitats and its countless properties and uses. It has been exploited as a source of textile fibers for the production of dresses, fishing nets, paper, canvas and as a food source. 30 years of forgetfulness, the European Union published a Regulation [1] reintroducing the cultivation of some cultivars of C. sativa with a THC content lower than 0.2% w/w for fiber and seed production. Cannabis inflorescences are commonly used to extract cannabinoids for pharmaceutical applications [10] and to prepare essential oils for nutraceutical products [11]. The chemical composition of inflorescences and derived essential oils is determined by genetic factors (different cultivars) and by pedoclimatic conditions and agronomical practices [14,15]

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