Abstract
Purpose: The lack of scientific evidence of the safety and efficacy of over-the-counter topical cannabinoid-based cosmetics remains a concern. The current study attempted to assess the quality of cannabinoid-based cosmetic products available on the UAE market. In particular, the study attempted to quantify the presence of undeclared tetrahydrocannabinol, specifically delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), in these products. Methods: A total of 18 cannabinoid-based cosmetics were collected and analysed in this study. GC-MS analysis was used to determine the presence of total undeclared tetrahydrocannabinol. Results: The estimate for the average tetrahydrocannabinol content was 0.011% with a 95% CI (0.004−0.019). Leave-on cosmetics products are more likely to contain total tetrahydrocannabinol compared to rinse-off cosmetics (p = 0.041). Although there was no statistically significant difference in the total tetrahydrocannabinol according to cosmetic category, there was a tendency towards higher tetrahydrocannabinol content in the hand care products, baby products, and body care preparations. Conclusion: The current study reveals the need for producers of cannabinoid-based cosmetic products to issue quality certificates for each batch produced to inform users of the tested levels of tetrahydrocannabinol.
Highlights
It is best known as the source of a recreational drug, the Cannabis sativa plant has a large variety of other uses, e.g., as an ingredient in food and cosmetics, a textile material, and a medicinal product [1]
The peak area ratio (PAR) for each working solution was calculated by dividing the peak area of the tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and THC (AREATHCA and THC) by the peak area of the internal standard (AREAIS)
11.1% were made in the USA and 88.9% were made in the European Union
Summary
It is best known as the source of a recreational drug, the Cannabis sativa plant has a large variety of other uses, e.g., as an ingredient in food and cosmetics, a textile material, and a medicinal product [1]. The cannabis plant contains various chemical compounds known as cannabinoids, which is a term that initially only encompassed those substances produced by the plant, namely, phytocannabinoids. One of these compounds is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which causes psychoactive effects known from the recreational use of cannabis. The phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) has been the focus of attention due to its neurological and anti-inflammatory effects [3,4,5]. Products containing CBD are often sold over the counter, e.g., as dietary supplements, to circumvent the laws regulating medicinal products
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