Transformations of Tetrahydrocannabinol, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid and cannabinol during their extraction from Cannabis sativa L.

Abstract

The presented study discusses the difference in the results of estimation of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and cannabinol (CBN) amount in Cannabis sativa L., using long-lasting liquid extraction in the Soxhlet apparatus and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) as sample preparation methods in the analytical procedure. THC amounts extracted in the PLE process using nhexane or methanol are very similar. THCA amounts extracted in the PLE process using n-hexane are generally greater than those extracted in the Soxhlet apparatus but smaller when methanol is applied in the PLE process. The obtained results evidently show that the mutual transformations of THCA, THC and CBN occur not only during Soxhlet extraction but also during short-lasting PLE. In the last case, however, they are small. The intensity of the transformation depends on the applied extractant type.