FAQ

Kick starting method development for hemp analysis using cannabis as equivalent material

Publication date: 08.05.2023

Problems of Forensic Sciences, 2022, 132, pp. 271 - 283

https://doi.org/10.4467/12307483PFS.22.015.17688

Authors

Kar-Weng Chan
Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Petaling, Malaysia
All publications →

Titles

Kick starting method development for hemp analysis using cannabis as equivalent material

Abstract

Cannabis (or marijuana) is detrimental to humans because of its psychoactive effects. The plant materials of this genus have however been credited with its vast nutritional values. As its benefits outweigh harmful effects, some countries have legalized the use of fiber-type cannabis – a plant product called hemp. Hemp is deemed to contain delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) below the legal limit (e.g. <0.3% THC) and thus less psychoactive. It is safe to use hemp if it contains no or little THC. So the enforcement bodies must check its level to assure safety prior to sales. Notwithstanding this, hemp cultivation as well as consumption is not lawful in Malaysia. But recently, federal government has shown interest in growing and commercializing hemp. In this regard, an analytical method for identifying hemp must be developed. In the absence of hemp, a liquid chromatographic method was developed using cannabis plants as equivalent materials to mimic the target plant matrix. The validation procedure demonstrated that the method was able to achieve good selectivity with a detection limit =0.0005 mg/mL (or 0.008%) THC. It was precise (imprecision <3%) and accurate (recovery =98.76%) to quantify THC. The detector response was linear up to 0.05 mg/mL (0.8%) THC. This method is cheap and simple for routine application.

References

1. Ameri, A. (1999). The effects of cannabinoids on the brain. Progress in Neurobiology58(4), 315–348.

2. Berman, P., Futoran, K., Lewitus, G. M., Mukha, D., Benami, M., Shlomi, T., Meiri, D. (2018). A new ESILC/MS approach for comprehensive metabolic profiling of phytocannabinoids in Cannabis. Scientific Reports8,14280. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-32651-4. PMID: 30250104; PMCID: PMC6155167.

3. Bosy, T. Z., Cole, K. A. (2000). Consumption an quantitation of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol in commercially available hemp seed oil products. Journal of Analytical Toxicology24(7), 562–566.

4. Burton, R. A., Andres, M., Cole, M., Cowley, J. M., Augustin, M. A. (2022). Industrial hemp seed: from the field to value-added food ingredients. Journal of Cannabis Research4, 45. doi: 10.1186/s42238-022-00156-7.

5. Chan, K. W. (2014). Validating a gas chromatography-mass spectrometric method and sample classification procedure for cannabis profiling using cannabinoids from case samples. Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences46(4), 424–432.

6. Fodor, B., Molnár-Perl, I. (2017). The role of derivatization techniques in the analysis of plant cannabinoids by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry95, 149–158.

7. Hanuš, L. O., Meyer, S. M., Muñoz, E., Taglialatela-Scafati, O., Appendino, G. (2016). Phytocannabinoids: A unified critical inventory. Natural Product Reports33, 1357–1392.

8. Hazekamp, A., Peltenburg, A., Verpoorte, R., Giroud, C. (2005). Chromatographic and spectroscopic data of cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa L. Journal of Liquid Chromatography & Related Technologies28, 2361–2382.

9. Hemphill, J. K., Turner, J. C., Mahlberg, P. G. (1980). Cannabinoid content of individual plant organs from different geographical strains of Cannabis sativa L. Journal of Natural Products43(1), 112–122.

10. Iftikhar, A., Zafar, U., Ahmed, W., Shabbir, M. A., Sameen, A., Sahar, A., Bhat, Z. F., Kowalczewski, P. Ł., Jarzębski, M., Aadil, R. M. (2021). Applications of Cannabis sativa L. in food and its therapeutic potential: From a prohibited drug to a nutritional supplement. Molecules26(24), 7699. doi: 10.3390/molecules26247699.

11. Lehmann, T., Sager, F., Brenneisen, R. (1997). Excretion of cannabinoids in urine after ingestion of cannabis seed oil. Journal of Analytical Toxicology21, 373–375.

12. Leizer, C., Ribnicky, D., Poulev, A., Dushenkov, S., Raskin, I. (2000). The composition of hemp seed oil and its potential as an important source of nutrition. Journal of Nutraceuticals, Functional & Medical Foods2, 35–53.

13. NIDA (2021). What are marijuana’s effects? Retrieved 2022, May 5 from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/what-are-marijuana-effects.

14. Prociuk, M. A., Edel, A. L., Richard, M. N., Gavel, N. T., Ander, B. P., Dupasquier, C. M., Pierce, G. N. (2008). Cholesterol-induced stimulation of platelet aggregation is prevented by a hempseed-enriched diet. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology86, 153–159.

15. Raharjo, T. J., Verpoorte, R. (2004). Methods for the analysis of cannabinoids in biological materials: A review. Phytochemical Analysis15, 79–94.

16. Richard, M. N., Ganguly, R., Steigerwald, S. N., Al-Khalifa, A., Pierce, G. N. (2007). Dietary hemp seed reduces platelet aggregation. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis5, 424–425.

17. Rupasinghe, H. P. V., Davis, A., Kumar, S. K., Murray, B., Zheljazkov, V. D. (2020). Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa subsp. sativa) as an emerging source for value-added functional food ingredients and nutraceuticals. Molecules25(18), 4078. doi: 10.3390/molecules25184078.

18. Vonapartis, E., Aubin, M. P., Seguin, P., Mustafa, A, F., Charron, J. B. (2015). Seed composition of ten industrial hemp cultivars approved for production in Canada. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis39, 8–12.

19. WebMD (2020). Hemp: Health benefits, nutrition, and uses. Retrieved 2022, May 5 from https://www.webmd.com/diet/hemp-health-benefits-nutrition-uses#1.

Information

Information: Problems of Forensic Sciences, 2022, 132, pp. 271 - 283

Article type: Original article

Titles:

Polish:
Kick starting method development for hemp analysis using cannabis as equivalent material
English:

Kick starting method development for hemp analysis using cannabis as equivalent material

Authors

Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Petaling, Malaysia

Published at: 08.05.2023

Received at: 10.10.2022

Accepted at: 09.01.2023

Article status: Open

Licence: CC BY-NC-ND  licence icon

Percentage share of authors:

Kar-Weng Chan (Author) - 100%

Article corrections:

-

Publication languages:

English, Polish

Suggested citations: Vancouver

Chan K. Kick starting method development for hemp analysis using cannabis as equivalent material. Problems of Forensic Sciences. 2023;2022 (132): 271-283