Optimal Treatment with Cannabis Extracts Formulations Is Gained via Knowledge of Their Terpene Content and via Enrichment with Specifically Selected Monoterpenes and Monoterpenoids
Differences between therapeutic effects of medical cannabis inflorescences and those of their extracts are generally attributed to the differences in administration form and in the resultant pharmacokinetics. We hypothesized that difference may further extend to the composition of the actually consu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/20/6920 |
| _version_ | 1827648586042572800 |
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| author | Noa Raz Aharon M. Eyal Elyad M. Davidson |
| author_facet | Noa Raz Aharon M. Eyal Elyad M. Davidson |
| author_sort | Noa Raz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Differences between therapeutic effects of medical cannabis inflorescences and those of their extracts are generally attributed to the differences in administration form and in the resultant pharmacokinetics. We hypothesized that difference may further extend to the composition of the actually consumed drug. Cannabinoid and terpene contents were compared between commercial cannabis inflorescences (<i>n</i> = 19) and decarboxylated extracts (<i>n</i> = 12), and between inflorescences and decarboxylated extracts produced from them (<i>n</i> = 10). While cannabinoid content was preserved in the extracts, a significant loss of terpenes was evident, mainly in the more volatile monoterpenes and monoterpenoids (representing a loss of about 90%). This loss changes the total terpene content, the proportion of monoterpenes out of the total terpenes, and the monoterpene/cannabinoid ratio. Terpene deficiency might impair extracts’ pharmacological efficacy and might contribute to the patients’ preference to inflorescences-smoking. This argues against the validity of terms such as “whole plant” and “full spectrum” extracts and creates a misleading assumption that extracts represent the pharmacological profile of the sourced inflorescences. Furthermore, it reduces the diversity in extracts, such as loss of differences between sativa-type and indica-type. Enriching cannabis extracts with selected terpenes may provide a suitable solution, generating a safe, precise, and reproducible drug with tailored cannabinoid and terpene contents. Careful selection of terpenes to be added enables tailor-made extracts, adjusted for various medicinal aims and for different populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:42:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-434d34d591e84eacac989b3808c0e843 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:42:14Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-434d34d591e84eacac989b3808c0e8432023-11-24T01:33:48ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492022-10-012720692010.3390/molecules27206920Optimal Treatment with Cannabis Extracts Formulations Is Gained via Knowledge of Their Terpene Content and via Enrichment with Specifically Selected Monoterpenes and MonoterpenoidsNoa Raz0Aharon M. Eyal1Elyad M. Davidson2Bazelet Medical Cannabis Group, Or Akiva 3065101, IsraelBazelet Medical Cannabis Group, Or Akiva 3065101, IsraelDepartment of Anesthesiology, CCM and Pain Relief, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem 9112001, IsraelDifferences between therapeutic effects of medical cannabis inflorescences and those of their extracts are generally attributed to the differences in administration form and in the resultant pharmacokinetics. We hypothesized that difference may further extend to the composition of the actually consumed drug. Cannabinoid and terpene contents were compared between commercial cannabis inflorescences (<i>n</i> = 19) and decarboxylated extracts (<i>n</i> = 12), and between inflorescences and decarboxylated extracts produced from them (<i>n</i> = 10). While cannabinoid content was preserved in the extracts, a significant loss of terpenes was evident, mainly in the more volatile monoterpenes and monoterpenoids (representing a loss of about 90%). This loss changes the total terpene content, the proportion of monoterpenes out of the total terpenes, and the monoterpene/cannabinoid ratio. Terpene deficiency might impair extracts’ pharmacological efficacy and might contribute to the patients’ preference to inflorescences-smoking. This argues against the validity of terms such as “whole plant” and “full spectrum” extracts and creates a misleading assumption that extracts represent the pharmacological profile of the sourced inflorescences. Furthermore, it reduces the diversity in extracts, such as loss of differences between sativa-type and indica-type. Enriching cannabis extracts with selected terpenes may provide a suitable solution, generating a safe, precise, and reproducible drug with tailored cannabinoid and terpene contents. Careful selection of terpenes to be added enables tailor-made extracts, adjusted for various medicinal aims and for different populations.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/20/6920terpenesmonoterpenescannabis extractsfull-spectrumterpenes enrichmententourage effect |
| spellingShingle | Noa Raz Aharon M. Eyal Elyad M. Davidson Optimal Treatment with Cannabis Extracts Formulations Is Gained via Knowledge of Their Terpene Content and via Enrichment with Specifically Selected Monoterpenes and Monoterpenoids Molecules terpenes monoterpenes cannabis extracts full-spectrum terpenes enrichment entourage effect |
| title | Optimal Treatment with Cannabis Extracts Formulations Is Gained via Knowledge of Their Terpene Content and via Enrichment with Specifically Selected Monoterpenes and Monoterpenoids |
| title_full | Optimal Treatment with Cannabis Extracts Formulations Is Gained via Knowledge of Their Terpene Content and via Enrichment with Specifically Selected Monoterpenes and Monoterpenoids |
| title_fullStr | Optimal Treatment with Cannabis Extracts Formulations Is Gained via Knowledge of Their Terpene Content and via Enrichment with Specifically Selected Monoterpenes and Monoterpenoids |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimal Treatment with Cannabis Extracts Formulations Is Gained via Knowledge of Their Terpene Content and via Enrichment with Specifically Selected Monoterpenes and Monoterpenoids |
| title_short | Optimal Treatment with Cannabis Extracts Formulations Is Gained via Knowledge of Their Terpene Content and via Enrichment with Specifically Selected Monoterpenes and Monoterpenoids |
| title_sort | optimal treatment with cannabis extracts formulations is gained via knowledge of their terpene content and via enrichment with specifically selected monoterpenes and monoterpenoids |
| topic | terpenes monoterpenes cannabis extracts full-spectrum terpenes enrichment entourage effect |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/20/6920 |
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