Testing Cannabis Plant Material for Terpenes

Testing Cannabis Plant Material for Terpenes

Professor DeBacco


Cannabis Terpenes
Terpenoids are not unique to cannabis and often are responsible for the odor of the plant.
Different cannabis varieties produce unique terpene profiles which in combination with the unique ratios of cannabinoids may determine some of the preferred medicinal effects.



Importance of Terpenes
Since terpenes are not cannabinoids, some feel these are not important constituents of a cannabis plant or product.
However, there is increasing evidence that other chemicals in the plant work synergistically with the cannabinoids that produce therapeutic responses.
Some evidence shows these effects can include lowering of inflammation and regulation of blood glucose to protection of neurons and gastric cells.



Analysis of Terpenes
Chemical analysis has generally been done by capillary GC/MS for this complex mixture of over 200 different terpene compounds.
However, there is a recent report employing LC/MS/MS techniques with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) that may not have the optimal chromatographic separation efficiency compared to capillary GC columns, but when combined with the mixture analysis capabilities of tandem mass spectrometry may produce the results needed while also being amenable to some of the other important cannabis compounds in the same sample.



Suggested Analytical Techniques for Terpenes
The quantitative determination of terpenes and sesquiterpenes is often desired and perhaps best done by either GC/MS or LC/MS/MS instead of some of the earlier reported techniques



Terpene Profiles
Often consumers will seek out specific terpenes or terpen profiles that may have improved relief of their particular condition.
Growers also like to showcase their terpene profiles to provide a selling point for their product.







Link to Lecture Slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1k-yU...

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