A Rapid and Sensitive Method for the Determination of Cannabidiol in Cosmetic Products by Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Cannabidiol is a phytocannabinoid with proven pharmacological properties that is also used in the cosmetic industry for its sebostatic and antioxidant activities, being considered a new anti-aging ally. An analytical method is proposed for the determination of CBD in cosmetic products by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, after leaching the CBD from the cosmetic matrix with ethanol. Low instrumental limits of detection (0.22 ng mL−1) and quantification (0.74 ng mL−1) allow the determination of CBD at trace levels without needing preconcentration, whereas the wide linearity of the method allows the determination of CBD in more concentrated samples without high dilution. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of six cosmetic products and a raw material. The proposed method is suitable for the quality control of cosmetic products containing CBD, being able to quickly and easily determine this compound, ensuring that its concentration in the finished product is the desired one.

Analytical Techniques for Phytocannabinoid Profiling of Cannabis and Cannabis-Based Products—A Comprehensive Review

“…After extraction of cannabis plant material, additional filtrationis performed, using sintered glass disc [ 44 ], sterile cotton plugs [ 9 , 75 , 143 , 144 ], PFTE syringe filters, with 0.22 µm [ 68 , 111 ] or 0.45 µm pore size [ 56 , 94 , 95 , 108 ], millipore filter (0.45 µm) [ 50 , 84 ], nylon filters (0.45 µm) [ 133 ], membrane filter [ 49 ], PVD filter (0.22 µm) [ 113 ] or, alternatively, drying on MgSO 4 and filtration [ 67 , 138 ]. The insoluble plant material can also be removed by vacuum filtration.…”

“…Solvent exchange is also performed prior to GC analysis, especially when derivatization is performed [ 7 , 80 , 87 , 104 , 121 , 123 , 133 ]. Extracts are reduced to dryness usually under gentle N 2 steam, causing least damage to total extracted amounts of phytocannabinoids and terpenoids than drying in rotary evaporator or in a speedvac, the latter reducing the concentrations of Δ 9 -THC and CBG for two-thirds [ 66 ].…”

“…Extracts are reduced to dryness usually under gentle N 2 steam, causing least damage to total extracted amounts of phytocannabinoids and terpenoids than drying in rotary evaporator or in a speedvac, the latter reducing the concentrations of Δ 9 -THC and CBG for two-thirds [ 66 ]. Reduced extracts can be dissolved in solvents (e.g., pyridine and benzene [ 116 ], CHCl 3 [ 5 ], MeCN [ 116 ], dry EtAc [ 55 ]), in a mixture of derivatization agent and solvent (e.g., toluene and BSTFA [ 94 ], pyridine and BSTFA + 1% TMCS [ 118 ], pyridine, isooctane and MSTFA [ 99 ], pyridine and BSTFA [ 90 ], pyridine and MSTFA + 1% TMCS [ 84 ]) or directly in the derivatization agent [ 80 , 99 , 100 , 133 ]. As silylation agents are harmful for GC injection port and column, additional evaporation to dryness is frequently performed, followed by dissolution in solvent, e.g., n- hexane [ 84 ] or MeCN [ 95 ].…”

“…Versatile silylation agents are used, ordered by reactivity: hexamethyldisilazine (HMDS) [ 88 ], N-methyl-(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide (MSTFA) [ 153 ], N, O-bistrifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) [ 90 ], alone or accompanied by a catalyst, usually 1% trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) [ 58 , 99 , 100 , 123 , 124 , 133 ] for TMS derivatization and N- tert- butyldimethylsilyl-N-methyltrifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA) alone or with 1% tert-butyldimethylchlorosilane (t-BDMCS) as a catalyst for TBDMS derivatization. A study comparing the derivatization efficiency of different alkylsilylation agents, HMDS + trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), MSTFA, activated MSTFA, MSTFA + 1% TMCS, BSTFA, BSTFA + 1% TMCS, MTBSTFA and MTBSTFA + 1% t-BDMSC, using pyridine as additional catalyst for CBC, CBD, CBG, CBN, Δ 9 -THC and Δ 9 -THCA in standard solutions and plant matrix concluded that maximum responses are obtained with HMDS + TFA.…”

HPLC Method for Separation of Cannabidiol Hemp Seed Oil with Skin Lipids and Tandem HRMS Technology for Characterization of a Chemical Marker

“…Recently, CBD as an active ingredient has been investigated in clinical trials for the treatment of many medical conditions. The application of CBD in the cosmetic industry has also grown rapidly [3]. Anti-inflammatory properties enhance the therapeutic effects of acne vulgaris, since it counteracts multiple pathogenic factors of acne: sebum over-production, and sebocyte over proliferation [4].…”