Phytocannabinoids are currently being used as a treatment for various illnesses and syndromes, including chronic inflammatory diseases. Of these, the most potent anti-inflammatory phytocannabinoid, cannabidiol, is produced by the cannabis plant, and resembles an endocannabinoid that is found in high concentrations in humans, called 2-AG. Phytocannabinoids that bind to the cannabinoid receptor type 2, mediate anti-inflammatory responses via a decrease in the transcription factor NF-kB. More than a hundred phytocannabinoids with anti-inflammatory effects have been identified from foreign non-cannabis plants. However, no studies have been conducted investigating the profile of phytocannabinoids in native non-cannabis plants of Puerto Rico. Our main goal is to identify native plants, from a local ayurvedic farm in Puerto Rico, according to their known medicinal properties and/or uses and test them for phytocannabinoid content. The specific objective of this project was to test two extraction solvents for phytocannabinoids extraction from non-cannabis plants that are native to the island of Puerto Rico. Five plants were selected and divided in three parts, stalk, leaves, and flowers. Plants were weighed and allowed to dry for 48 hours prior to grinding and homogenization. These two solvents for phytocannabinoid extraction are ideal according to published methods. Phytocannabinoids prove to be a challenge to extract from plants, and so it is hypothesized that a buffer system comprised of methanol and chloroform, or methanol and acetic acid, can be utilized to extract a good amount of these molecules from non-cannabis plants. Extracted samples will be analyzed for phytocannabinoid content using a ESI-LC/MS approach.

Extraction of phytocannabinoids from non-cannabis plants native to the island of Puerto Rico

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.