title: Identification and quantification of cannabinoids in Cannabis sativa L. plants by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
abstract: High performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) has been successfully applied to cannabis plant extracts in order to identify cannabinoid compounds after their quantitative isolation by means of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). MS conditions were optimized by means of a central composite design (CCD) approach, and the analysis method was fully validated. Six major cannabinoids [tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabinol (CBN)] were quantified (RSD < 10%), and seven more cannabinoids were identified and verified by means of a liquid chromatograph coupled to a quadrupole-time-of-flight (Q-ToF) detector. Finally, based on the distribution of the analyzed cannabinoids in 30 Cannabis sativa L. plant varieties and the principal component analysis (PCA) of the resulting data, a clear difference was observed between outdoor and indoor grown plants, which was attributed to a higher concentration of THC, CBN, and CBD in outdoor grown plants.
authors.affiliation: Analytical Chemistry Department, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940, Leioa, Basque Country, Spain, oier.aizpurua@ehu.es.
authors.forename: Oier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Aizpurua-Olaizola
authors.forename: Jone
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: Maitane
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olivares
authors.forename: Nestor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Etxebarria
authors.forename: Aresatz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Usobiaga
mesh_terms: D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D002188:Cannabis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000379:methods*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids; D010936:Plant Extracts