Analysis of the antitumor activity of bioactive compounds of Cannabis flowers extracted by green solvents

The inhibitory effects of Cannabis flower extracts, obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)) with and without modifier, on various human tumour cells and non-tumour cells were evaluated. Different techniques were used to optimize the polarity interaction between solute and solvent before extraction. An increase in the cannabinoid content of interest (CBD/THC) was evaluated by decarboxylation of the flowers at 110 and 140 degrees C. Extractions with pure scCO(2) were conducted in a single step at temperatures of 50 and 70 degrees C and pressures of 22 and 40 MPa, varying the time of prior decarboxylation by 0.5 or 2.0 h. Sequential extractions were conducted in a first step at 35 degrees C and 10 MPa and then in a second step at 70 degrees C and 40 MPa, with and without modifier. Contents of the cannabinoids were evaluated using HPLC. Antitumor activity of the extracts was evaluated using the MTT assay. The highest yields and highest cannabinoid contents in the extracts were obtained with high solvent density values. Extracts with high concentrations of neutral cannabinoids showed high antitumor activity for cervical cancer cell lines. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.