Analytical Techniques for Phytocannabinoid Profiling of Cannabis and Cannabis-Based Products—A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Cannabis is gaining increasing attention due to the high pharmacological potential and updated legislation authorizing multiple uses. The development of time- and cost-efficient analytical methods is of crucial importance for phytocannabinoid profiling. This review aims to capture the versatility of analytical methods for phytocannabinoid profiling of cannabis and cannabis-based products in the past four decades (1980–2021). The thorough overview of more than 220 scientific papers reporting different analytical techniques for phytocannabinoid profiling points out their respective advantages and drawbacks in terms of their complexity, duration, selectivity, sensitivity and robustness for their specific application, along with the most widely used sample preparation strategies. In particular, chromatographic and spectroscopic methods, are presented and discussed. Acquired knowledge of phytocannabinoid profile became extremely relevant and further enhanced chemotaxonomic classification, cultivation set-ups examination, association of medical and adverse health effects with potency and/or interplay of certain phytocannabinoids and other active constituents, quality control (QC), and stability studies, as well as development and harmonization of global quality standards. Further improvement in phytocannabinoid profiling should be focused on untargeted analysis using orthogonal analytical methods, which, joined with cheminformatics approaches for compound identification and MSLs, would lead to the identification of a multitude of new phytocannabinoids.

Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolomics of Phytocannabinoids from Non-Cannabis Plant Origins

“…The phytocannabinoid structural motif results from the convergence of the mevalonate and the polyketide pathways ( Figure 2 ). In phytocannabinoid profiling, GC and LC-based approaches have attained equivalent accuracy, selectivity, linearity, sensitivity, and precision, and are used in both routine and exploratory analysis of cannabis and cannabis-based products [ 31 ]. Mass spectrometry is used for confirmation and identification of the compounds due to the increased selectivity but also for quantitative analysis, due to the better sensitivity over other detectors [ 32 ].…”

Differentiating Cannabis Products: Drugs, Food, and Supplements

“…Though different analytical methods and guidelines exist, differentiating between CBD- and THC-dominant cannabis chemotypes is no longer a difficult process, due to increased knowledge of biochemical and biomolecular characteristics of C. sativa L. and the development of instruments and analytical methods that facilitate detection and exact quantification of cannabinoid content ( Farinon et al, 2020 ; Stefkov 2022 ). The United Nations suggested identifying cannabinoids fast and easily with color tests—e.g.…”

“…TLC is typically used for fast screening of cannabinoids and does not provide further information; in addition it has low specificity and sensitivity and false-positive results may be seen ( UNODC, 2009 ; Leghissa et al, 2018a ; Citti et al, 2018 ). An accurate and reproducible rapid high-performance TLC (HPTLC) method was developed for quantitative analysis of total THC quantification (decarboxylated THCA + THC + CBN) along with a qualitative fingerprint of the other primary neutral cannabinoids (CBD, THCV, CBG and CBC), with results comparable to that of an HPLC fingerprint ( Fischedick et al, 2009 ; Stefkov 2022 ). HPTLC may be helpful in screening for high THC content in hemp and hemp products.…”

“…High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is gaining popularity as the botanical chemical fingerprint method of choice, including for phytocannabinoid profiling ( Stefkov et al, 2022 ). The most commonly analyzed cannabinoids include ∆9 -THC, THCA, CBD, CBDA, CBN, CBG, and CBC.…”

“…Many labs prefer either GC- or LC- based methods for cannabinoid testing. According to a recent comprehensive literature review of the past four decades of analytical methods reported for cannabinoid profiling in over 220 scientific papers, Stefkov et al, 2022 states that GC- and LC-based methods, at this point in time, exhibit comparable accuracy, selectivity, linearity, sensitivity and precision. Both are used routinely and in investigational analysis of cannabis and cannabis products.…”