Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the terpenoid profile in dried cannabis flowers obtained from different varieties of cannabis plant and in cannabis extracts in order to investigate quantity of terpenes lost during extraction and purification process.
 Methods: GC/MS method for determination of terpenes was verified. The concentration of terpenes was determined in dry flowers as raw material and in decarboxylated and distillated cannabis extracts, using the same GC/MS analytical method. The extraction was performed using 96% ethanol as a solvent.
 Results: The obtained results indicate that dry cannabis flowers from different cannabis plant can be distinguished only by their terpenoid profile. The use of standardized cannabis-based extracts can be confirmed by determination of terpenoid profile. The purification process of the cannabis extracts removes terpenes. The percentage of major terpen beta-Myrcene decreased from 68% in dry flower to 15% in decarboxylated and, 1.9% in distillated cannabis oil after purification. The percentage of second major terpene alpha-Pinene decreased from 15% in dry flower to 5% in decarboxylated and, 0.7% in distillated cannabis oil after purification.
 Conclusion: Terpenes act synergistically with cannabinoids. Following the monograph for quality testing of cannabis extracts in the German Pharmacopoeia, the purification process is necessary to achieve a final concentration of cannabinoids (Tetrahydrocannabinol) of more than 95% in the final active pharmaceutical ingredient. The purification process removes terpenes that have proven synergistically pharmacological effects with cannabinoids.
Highlights
Cannabis sativa L. (Cannabaceae) is the frequently used plant, yet notorious and controversial, but considered to have therapeutic potential [1]
Following the monograph for quality testing of cannabis extracts in the German Pharmacopoeia, the purification process is necessary to achieve a final concentration of cannabinoids (Tetrahydrocannabinol) of more than 95% in the final active pharmaceutical ingredient
With the analysis performed we have shown that the purification process removes terpenes from the final extracts
Summary
Cannabis sativa L. (Cannabaceae) is the frequently used plant, yet notorious and controversial, but considered to have therapeutic potential [1]. Cannabis is a plant that contains more than 1,000 different chemical ingredients, which vary depends on the chemotype (chemical phenotype) of the strain. Chemotypes denote plants of the same genus that are practically identical in appearance but produce essential oil containing different major ingredients that vary within one botanical strain [7]. An essential oil (extract) derived from cannabis plats primarily contains cannabinoids which are the main carriers of pharmacological effects and terpenes / terpenoids, which act synergistically with cannabinoids in exhibiting a pharmacological effect. Terpenes / terpenoids itself have a wide range of pharmacological actions, such as antifungal, antiviral, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycemic, antiparasitic, antioxidant and antimicrobial. Caryophyllene has gastroprotective, analgesic, anticancer, antifungal, antibacterial, antidepressant, antiinflammatory, antiproliferative, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects [11]. Camphene helps in treatment of cardiovascular diseases, while guaiol has an antitumor effect [16]. αhumulene has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor effects [17], nerolidol antiparasitic [18, 19], and citral has an antifungal, antimicrobial, antiproliferative, cytotoxic, anticancer, and antitumor effect [20,21,22,23,24,25]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
