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Morano C, Dei Cas M, Casagni E, Pallavicini M, Bolchi C, Penati S, Cuomo A, Cascella M, Bimonte S, Spensiero A, Ferrari A, Lombardi A, Roda G. Medicinal Cannabis: Extended Stability of Cannabis Extracts Produced Using a New Ethanol-based Extraction Method. PLANTA MEDICA 2024; 90:73-80. [PMID: 37963569 DOI: 10.1055/a-2189-8155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis as a therapeutic agent is increasing in popularity all around the globe, particularly in Western countries, and its potential is now well assessed. On the other hand, each country has its own regulation for the preparation of cannabis macerated oils; in Italy, there are only a few preparation methods allowed. With this work, we aim to perform a stability study of cannabis oils produced with a novel method for the extraction of cannabinoids from cannabis inflorescence. Three different varieties of cannabis were used, with and without the adding of tocopherol acetate as an antioxidant. Cannabinoids were extracted using ethanol at room temperature; then, the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure and the preparations reconstituted with olive oil. In this work, we assessed the stability of both cannabinoids and terpenes in these formulas over 8 months. Cannabinoid stability was assessed by monitoring the concentrations of THC and CBD, while terpene stability was assessed by monitoring β-Caryophyllene and α-Humulene concentrations. Stability of the extracts was not influenced by the presence of tocopherol acetate, though refrigeration seems to be detrimental for a long storage of products, especially regarding THC concentrations. The improvements offered by this method reside in the flexibility in controlling the concentration of the extract and the ability to produce highly concentrated oils, alongside the possibility to produce standardized oils despite the variability of the starting plant material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camillo Morano
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Michele Dei Cas
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Eleonora Casagni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Pallavicini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristiano Bolchi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Penati
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Arturo Cuomo
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS, Fondazione 'G. Pascale', Division of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Naples, Italy
| | - Marco Cascella
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS, Fondazione 'G. Pascale', Division of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Naples, Italy
| | - Sabrina Bimonte
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS, Fondazione 'G. Pascale', Division of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonia Spensiero
- Compounding Laboratory, Farmacia Caputo, Nocera Superiore (SA), Italy
| | | | | | - Gabriella Roda
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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The Antioxidant Role of Hemp Phytocomplex in Cannabis Oil-Based Extracts. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15091102. [PMID: 36145323 PMCID: PMC9503170 DOI: 10.3390/ph15091102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic use of Cannabis oil extracts is constantly increasing. However, in Italy, they are allowed to be prepared with only a few methods and matrices. With this work, we aimed to assess how the different processes might affect the chemical composition of two different matrices (olive oils and medium chain triglycerides oils - MCT), accounting as variables for both the presence of Cannabis dried apices of the female flower and the adding of tocopherol acetate as an antioxidant. The macerated oils were prepared with four of the methods allowed according to the Italian legislation (Romano-Hazekamp, Cannazza-Citti, SIFAP and Calvi) and analyzed for normal and oxidized tocopherols, oxidized and conjugated fatty acids and volatile carbonyl compounds (VCCs), all using liquid chromatography coupled to UV or PDA detectors. According to our results, neither normal nor oxidized tocopherols are affected by the addition of antioxidants or Cannabis, while the oxidation state (according to the levels of oxidized and conjugated fatty acids) is often altered in either case. The VCCs concentrations, on the other hand, are never notably altered. These results suggest a worthless use of antioxidants in Cannabis macerated oils preparations, while the dried apices of female flowers might have a protective role in maintaining the oil oxidation state.
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