engleski

Voltammetry of immobilized particles of cannabinoids

The cannabinoids form a group of C21 terpenophenolic compounds unique to plant Cannabis sativa L. The major cannabinoids found in cannabis plant are: cannabinol (CBN), cannabidiol (CBD) and the psychoactive component delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Depending on the ratio of the main cannabinoids (THC, CBN and CBD) cannabis plants can be divided into fiber-type and drug-type plants. If the ratio (THC+CBN)/CBD is < 1, the cannabis plant is considered to be a fiber-type. If the ratio is > 1, it is considered a drug-type. The cultivation of fiber-type cannabis, also known as industrial hemp or just hemp, is legal and its leaves and seeds are used as food products. Drug-type cannabis, commonly referred as marijuana, is one of the most widely used illicit drugs, and its use is legally regulated in most countries of the world. However, marijuana is also known for numerous medical effects due to its antibacterial and neuroprotective properties. Available analytical methods for identification and quantification of cannabinoids in cannabis plants and products as well as in biological samples require expensive instrumentation which is not portable. Hence, there is an interest in developing cheap and portable methodologies that would enable fast-screening of cannabinoids on-site. The aim of this study was to develop an electrochemical method for the direct detection of cannabinoids in solid samples. The method is based on the voltammetry of microparticles at paraffin-impregnated graphite electrode. In square-wave voltammetry, in 0.1 M KNO3 at pH 7, the responses of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabinol and cannabidiol consist of a single peak with the maximum at 0.55 V  0.01 V. This peak is ascribed to electrooxidation of phenol group to phenoxy radical. In microparticles of hemp and marijuana cannabinoids can be detected in pure drug as well as in the mixture with foreign insoluble powders.

cannabinoids; terpenophenoli; PIGE; square-wave voltammetry

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