Intralaboratory comparison of analytical methods for quantification of major phytocannabinoids

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Pharmacognosy
• Forensic Science

Background:

• Accurate quantification of phytocannabinoids is crucial for cannabis research and regulation.
• Various chromatographic techniques exist, but their suitability for diverse cannabis matrices requires evaluation.
• Phytocannabinoid acids present unique analytical challenges due to their inherent instability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the performance of three chromatographic methods for phytocannabinoid analysis.
• To assess selectivity, sensitivity, accuracy, and precision of each method.
• To evaluate sample preparation techniques for optimal phytocannabinoid extraction.

Main Methods:

• Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection (UHPLC-MS/MS).
• Gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC-MS).
• Gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID).
• Ultrasonic-assisted ethanolic extraction for sample preparation.

Main Results:

• All three chromatographic methods were suitable for analyzing phytocannabinoids in cannabis.
• GC-MS exhibited slightly better accuracy in quantifying phytocannabinoid acids.
• A single ultrasonic-assisted ethanolic extraction proved exhaustive for dried, powdered cannabis samples.

Conclusions:

• UHPLC-MS/MS, GC-MS, and GC-FID are all viable methods for phytocannabinoid analysis.
• GC-MS is recommended for enhanced accuracy when quantifying unstable phytocannabinoid acids.
• Efficient sample preparation using ultrasonic-assisted ethanolic extraction is key for reliable results.