Identification of Terpenoid Chemotypes Among High (−)-trans-Δ⁹- Tetrahydrocannabinol-ProducingCannabis sativaL. Cultivars

Abstract

Introduction: With laws changing around the world regarding the legal status of Cannabis sativa (cannabis) it is important to develop objective classification systems that help explain the chemical variation found among various cultivars. Currently cannabis cultivars are named using obscure and inconsistent nomenclature. Terpenoids, responsible for the aroma of cannabis, are a useful group of compounds for distinguishing cannabis cultivars with similar cannabinoid content.Methods: In this study we analyzed terpenoid content of cannabis samples obtained from a single medical cannabis dispensary in California over the course of a year. Terpenoids were quantified by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection and peak identification was confirmed with gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Quantitative data from 16 major terpenoids were analyzed using hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA).Results: A total of 233 samples representing 30 cultivars were used to develop a classification scheme based on quantitative data, HCA, PCA, and OPLS-DA. Initially cultivars were divided into five major groups, which were subdivided into 13 classes based on differences in terpenoid profile. Different classification models were compared with PLS-DA and found to perform best when many representative samples of a particular class were included.Conclusion: A hierarchy of terpenoid chemotypes was observed in the data set. Some cultivars fit into distinct chemotypes, whereas others seemed to represent a continuum of chemotypes. This study has demonstrated an approach to classifying cannabis cultivars based on terpenoid profile.

Use of rating scales versus check‐all‐that‐apply ballots in quantifying strain‐specific Cannabis aroma

“…Through the efforts of breeders and growers there are now at least 600 named cultivars (Rahn, Pearson, Trigiano, & Gray, 2016). These vary in growth form and other phenotypic traits, including levels of Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and related cannabinoids (Jikomes & Zoorob, 2018) as well as terpene profiles (Fischedick, 2017;Orser, Johnson, Speck, Hilyard, & Afia, 2018). Cultivars also vary dramatically in aroma (Gilbert & DiVerdi, 2018) and scent allusions often appear in strain names, for example, Lemon Diesel, Raspberry Cough, and Grape Ape (Rahn et al, 2016).…”

Effects of non‐euphoric plant cannabinoids on muscle quality and performance of dystrophic mdx mice

“…Among them, cannabidiol (CBD) and its analogue cannabidivarin (CBDV), in contrast to ∆ 9 ‐THC, do not induce euphoric effects and show efficacy, tolerability and safety in a considerable number of both preclinical and clinical studies (Burstein and Zurier, ; Hill et al, ; Fernández‐Ruiz et al, ; Iannotti et al, ; Zurier and Burstein, ; Iffland and Grotenhermen, ). Besides CBD and CBDV, C. sativa may also contain high levels (up to 50%) of ∆ 9 ‐tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), the propyl side chain analogue of THC (McPartland et al, ; Fischedick, ). THCV is also undergoing clinical evaluation for the treatment of metabolic disorders (Jadoon et al, ).…”

Pharmacological Actions and Potential Therapeutic Use of Cannabinoids in Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy

“…Among them, cannabidiol (CBD) and its analog cannabivarin (CBDV), contrary to ∆ 9 -THC, do not induce euphoric effects and showed their efficacy in a considerable number of preclinical as well as clinical studies [49][50][51][52]. Besides CBD and CBDV, Cannabis sativa may also contain up to 50% of ∆ 9 -tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), the propyl side chain analog of THC ( [53,54]. THCV is also undergoing clinical evaluation for the treatment of metabolic disorders [55].…”