Comparison of different methods for the extraction of cannabinoids from cannabis

Abstract

Cannabis oils, namely concentrated cannabis extracts, are getting plenty of attention because of their therapeutic potential for treatment of patients with cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis and several other pathologies. Here we propose the use of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) as alternative methods to the current protocols followed by pharmacists, the only authorized to manipulate standardized Cannabis. A third method, consisting of the use of Tween 20 as surfactant, was considered. Our best extraction methodology for commercial hemp extraction was applied to medicinal cannabis. Here we report the results obtained for ‘Eletta campana’, ‘Carmagnola selezionata’, Bediol^®, FM2^® and Bedrocan^®.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Cannabis extraction
• industrial hemp
• medicinal cannabis
• ultrasound-assisted extraction
• microwave-assisted extraction

Acknowledgements

We are indebted to the pharmacists Drs. Piero Lussignoli, Adalberto Fabbriconi, Pietro Siciliano and Mario Marcucci for providing the cannabis-based medicinal extracts and for their continued help and valuable advice.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.