The analysis of 35,312 cannabis preparations confiscated in the USA over a period of 18 years for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (⌬ 9-THC) and other major cannabinoids is reported. Samples were identified as cannabis, hashish, or hash oil. Cannabis samples were further subdivided into marijuana (loose material, kilobricks and buds), sinsemilla, Thai sticks and ditchweed. The data showed that more than 82% of all confiscated samples were in the marijuana category for every year except 1980 (61%) and 1981 (75%). The potency (concentration of ⌬ 9-THC) of marijuana samples rose from less than 1.5% in 1980 to approximately 3.3% in 1983 and 1984, then fluctuated around 3% till 1992. Since 1992, the potency of confiscated marijuana samples has continuously risen, going from 3.1% in 1992 to 4.2% in 1997. The average concentration of ⌬ 9-THC in all cannabis samples showed a gradual rise from 3% in 1991 to 4.47% in 1997. Hashish and hash oil, on the other hand, showed no specific potency trends. Other major cannabinoids [cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), and cannabichromene (CBC)] showed no significant change in their concentration over the years.

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a b s t r a c tThe optimum extraction conditions for highest recovery of total phenolics content (TPC) and antioxidant capacities (AC) were analysed for Mangifera pajang peels (MPP), using response surface methodology. The effects of ethanol concentration (X 1 : 20-80%), extraction temperature (X 2 : 30-65°C) and liquid-to-solid ratio (X 3 : 20-50 mL/g) on the recovery of total phenolics (Y 1 ) and antioxidant capacity (Y 2 ) were investigated. A second order polynomial model produced a satisfactory fitting of the experimental data with regard to total phenolic content (R 2 = 0.9966, p < 0.0001) and antioxidant capacity (R 2 = 0.9953, p < 0.0001). The optimum extraction conditions for TPC were 68%, 55°C and 32.7 mL/g, and for AC were 68%, 56°C and 31.8 mL/g, respectively. Predicted values for extraction of TPC and AC agreed well with the experimental values. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of the optimally obtained extracts from MPP revealed the major phytochemicals as mangiferin, gallic acid, catechin and epicatechin.

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