Analysis of Phenolic Compounds in Commercial Cannabis sativa L. Inflorescences Using UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS

Abstract

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L. Family Cannabaceae) contains a vast number of bioactive relevant compounds, namely polyphenols including flavonoids, phenolic acids, phenol amides, and lignanamides, well known for their therapeutic properties. Nowadays, many polyphenols-containing products made of herbal extracts are marketed, claiming to exert health-promoting effects. In this context, industrial hemp inflorescence may represent an innovative source of bioactive compounds to be used in nutraceutical formulations. The aim of this work was to provide a comprehensive analysis of the polyphenolic fraction contained in polar extracts of four different commercial cultivars (Kompoti, Tiborszallasi, Antal, and Carmagnola Cs) of hemp inflorescences through spectrophotometric (TPC, DPPH tests) and spectrometry measurement (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS). Results highlighted a high content of cannflavin A and B in inflorescence analyzed samples, which appear to be cannabis-specific, with a mean value of 61.8 and 84.5 mg/kg, meaning a ten-to-hundred times increase compared to other parts of the plant. Among flavonols, quercetin-3-glucoside reached up to 285.9 mg/kg in the Carmagnola CS cultivar. Catechin and epicatechin were the most representative flavanols, with a mean concentration of 53.3 and 66.2 mg/kg, respectively, for all cultivars. Total polyphenolic content in inflorescence samples was quantified in the range of 10.51 to 52.58 mg GAE/g and free radical-scavenging included in the range from 27.5 to 77.6 mmol trolox/kg. Therefore, C. sativa inflorescence could be considered as a potential novel source of polyphenols intended for nutraceutical formulations.

Colon Bioaccessibility under In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion of a Red Cabbage Extract Chemically Profiled through UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS

“…The Folin–Ciocalteu method was used for determining the total phenolic content in accordance with the procedure reported by Izzo et al [ 19 ]. Briefly, 500 μL of deionized water and 125 μL of the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent 2 N were added to 125 μL of red cabbage extract.…”

Bioavailability and Bioefficacy of Hemp By-Products in Ruminant Meat Production and Preservation: A Review

“…Higher content of cannabinoids in hemp seed extracts is, therefore, a sign of contamination or use of medicinal cannabis varieties (27). Other phytochemical constituents of hemp by-products include condensed tannins (CT), alkaloids, phenols, lignanamides, and tocopherols (35,45). The CT are low in hempseed and HSC ( Table 4).…”

“…Other phytochemical constituents of hemp by-products include condensed tannins (CT), alkaloids, phenols, lignanamides, and tocopherols ( 35 , 45 ). The CT are low in hempseed and HSC ( Table 4 ).…”

Chemical Analysis of Minor Bioactive Components and Cannabidiolic Acid in Commercial Hemp Seed Oil

“…More than 500 different compounds have been characterized in C. sativa, with phytocannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenoids and fatty acids being the most relevant families [3]. Nevertheless, those compounds are not equally distributed throughout the plant, so the chemical content can drastically vary [4]. Currently, the EU Approved Common Catalogue of Cultivars includes some C. sativa cultivars with a total content of ∆ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (∆ 9 -THC) below 0.2% [5].…”

“…More than 500 different compounds have been characterized in C. sativa , with phytocannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenoids and fatty acids being the most relevant families [ 3 ]. Nevertheless, those compounds are not equally distributed throughout the plant, so the chemical content can drastically vary [ 4 ].…”