HPLC-DAD Analysis of Hemp Oil Supplements for Determination of Four Cannabinoids: Cannabidiol, Cannabidiolic Acid, Cannabinol and Delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol

Abstract

Growing consumer interest in hemp oilseed supplements requires quality control. Therefore, appropriate, effective and verified analytical methods are needed for the determination of some bioactive cannabinoids in them. The aim of the study is to present an extended (compared to our previous research) validated high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) method for the determination of four cannabinoids (cannabidiol, cannabidiolic acid, cannabinol and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) in an oil matrix, which was used to determine these cannabinoids in seven commercial hemp oil supplements. In our method, the isolation of the target compounds was based on liquid extraction with acetonitrile combined with the freezing (at −41 °C) of the oil phase. The results show that in some cases, the determined concentrations of cannabinoids in the tested supplements differ significantly from those declared by the manufacturers. As for the main medicinal cannabinoid (CBD) in hemp oil supplements, in two cases, the measured concentration was significantly lower (1.45 and 1.81%) than the declared (5 and 5%), and in the other supplements, the obtained results confirm the declared amount of CBD within the error range from 3.29 to 9.2%. Therefore, to ensure the safe and beneficial use of these supplements by consumers, it is necessary to monitor their cannabinoid composition.

THC and CBD Fingerprinting of an Elite Cannabis Collection from Iran: Quantifying Diversity to Underpin Future Cannabis Breeding

“…Therefore, their results confirmed the classification of the studied samples as fiber [ 54 ]. In order to grow consumer interest in hemp oilseed supplements, four main cannabinoids of CBD, CBDA, CBN, and ∆-9-THC in an oil matrix of seven commercial hemp oil supplements have been determined [ 55 ]. They reported that the cannabinoid composition is required to be monitored in such supplements, as in some cases, the cannabinoids concentration in analyzed samples differed significantly from those declared by the manufacturers [ 55 ].…”

The Skin and Natural Cannabinoids–Topical and Transdermal Applications

“…The understanding of the pharmacology of these compounds and the knowledge of their beneficial effects in the treatment of pain, post-chemotherapy emesis, neuropsychiatric conditions, and dermatological conditions, in particular, stimulated researchers to address topics related to optimal formulations. Theoretically, the most promising formulations, which exceed the limitations imposed by the physico-chemical characteristics of cannabinoids, mentioned above are those that allow their administration on the skin [ 154 ]. Among these skin administration methods, we focus on those based on nanotechnology, that have, as observed in Figure 4 , better penetration through skin layers than conventional formulations.…”

“…These difficulties not only led to the use of permeability enhancers such as oleic acid and ethanol but also techniques that modify the characteristics of the molecule by using microemulsions, physical amplifiers (microneedles and electroporation), iontophoresis, ultrasound, magnetophoresis, encapsulation in micro-/nanogels, nanoparticles, and nanocarriers [25,73,76]. Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) 4.86 [154] Cannabidiol (CBD) 5.79 [155] Cannabinodiol (CBND) 6.00 [156] Δ9-trans-tetrahidrocannabinol (THC) 7.26 [157] Δ8-trans-tetrahidrocannabinol (Δ8-THC) 7.4 [156] Cannabigerol (CBG) 7.47 [158] Cannabidiol (CBD) 5.79 [155] Pharmaceuticals 2023, 16, x FOR PEER REVIEW 16 of 35…”

“…Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) 4.86 [154] Cannabidiol (CBD) 5.79 [155] Cannabinodiol (CBND) 6.00 [156] Δ9-trans-tetrahidrocannabinol (THC) 7.26 [157] Δ8-trans-tetrahidrocannabinol (Δ8-THC) 7.4 [156] Cannabigerol (CBG) 7.47 [158] ∆9-trans-tetrahidrocannabinol (THC) 7.26 [157] Pharmaceuticals 2023, 16, x FOR PEER REVIEW 16 of 35…”

“…tions, which exceed the limitations imposed by the physico-chemical characteristics of cannabinoids, mentioned above are those that allow their administration on the skin [154]. Among these skin administration methods, we focus on those based on nanotechnology, that have, as observed in Figure 4, better penetration through skin layers than conventional formulations.…”