Development of extraction technique and GC/FID method for the analysis of cannabinoids in Cannabis sativa L. spp. santicha (hemp)

Introduction Nowadays, the interest in industrial Cannabis sativa L. herb has been increasing in the world. As a result, it is becoming one of the most studied plants due to its multifunctional benefits. Objectives To the best of our knowledge, no study has been conducted so far to determine the impact of extraction methods and conditions on the extraction yields of CBD and CBG from the Cannabis sativa L. ssp. Santhica. Therefore, we aimed to investigate a simple and sensitive GC-FID method to determine CBD and CBG in hemp extract. Methods As regards sample preparation, three extraction techniques were compared, including maceration (ME), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and reflux-heat extraction (RHE), in order to obtain a high recovery of the CBD of interest from the plant material. The GC-FID method developed in this study represents a powerful tool for the extraction and analysis of non-psychoactive cannabinoids from hemp varieties to be used for the preparations of extracts with a high content of bioactive compounds for both pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. Results A simple extraction procedure for CBD and CBG from hemp was also optimized in this work, by using ultrasound assisted extraction method with 96% ethanol, material/solvent ratio 1:10 and extraction time 10 min at room temperature. Conclusion The overall analytical method was fully validated in agreement with international guidelines. Therefore, proving a powerful and reliable tool for both the selection of hemp varieties with a high content of bioactive compounds and the quality control of its derivatives.