Cannabis indica contains a range of bioactive cannabinoids, among which tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) is the principal psychoactive compound with wide pharmacological applications. Optimizing extraction efficiency and purity is essential for both analytical and therapeutic uses. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of two solvent extraction techniques reflux condensation and long-term soaking for isolating Δ9-THC from C. indica leaves. Sample A was prepared using a reflux condenser to promote solvent recirculation and maintain elevated extraction temperatures, while Sample B was obtained by soaking the plant material in solvent for seven days under ambient conditions. The extracted oils were characterized using thin-layer chromatography (TLC), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), infrared spectroscopy (IR), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Physicochemical parameters including acid value, saponification value, specific gravity, and refractive index were determined through standard analytical methods. Additionally, qualitative assays were conducted to detect proteins, carbohydrates, steroids, tannins, gums, and mucilage. Comparative analysis revealed that the reflux-assisted extraction produced a higher yield and greater purity of Δ9-THC, with improved physicochemical stability compared to the soaking method. These results indicate that reflux condensation offers a more efficient and reproducible approach for cannabinoid extraction. The findings contribute to refining extraction methodologies and enhancing the quality of cannabinoid-based research and pharmaceutical formulations.
| Published in | Science Journal of Analytical Chemistry (Volume 13, Issue 4) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.sjac.20251304.14 |
| Page(s) | 104-112 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group |
(∆9-THC), Cannabis Indica, Tetrahydrocannabinol, HPLC Techniques
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APA Style
Munir, S., Khan, U. U., Din, I. U., Ahhmad, I., Sha, Z. A., et al. (2025). Separation of Tetrahydrocannabinol Fraction from Cannabis Indica Extracts by Chromatographic Method. Science Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 13(4), 104-112. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjac.20251304.14
ACS Style
Munir, S.; Khan, U. U.; Din, I. U.; Ahhmad, I.; Sha, Z. A., et al. Separation of Tetrahydrocannabinol Fraction from Cannabis Indica Extracts by Chromatographic Method. Sci. J. Anal. Chem. 2025, 13(4), 104-112. doi: 10.11648/j.sjac.20251304.14
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Download@article{10.11648/j.sjac.20251304.14,
author = {Shafqat Munir and Ubaid Ullah Khan and Imad Ud Din and Ijaz Ahhmad and Zafar Ali Sha and Abdul Rauf},
title = {Separation of Tetrahydrocannabinol Fraction from Cannabis Indica Extracts by Chromatographic Method},
journal = {Science Journal of Analytical Chemistry},
volume = {13},
number = {4},
pages = {104-112},
doi = {10.11648/j.sjac.20251304.14},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjac.20251304.14},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjac.20251304.14},
abstract = {Cannabis indica contains a range of bioactive cannabinoids, among which tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) is the principal psychoactive compound with wide pharmacological applications. Optimizing extraction efficiency and purity is essential for both analytical and therapeutic uses. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of two solvent extraction techniques reflux condensation and long-term soaking for isolating Δ9-THC from C. indica leaves. Sample A was prepared using a reflux condenser to promote solvent recirculation and maintain elevated extraction temperatures, while Sample B was obtained by soaking the plant material in solvent for seven days under ambient conditions. The extracted oils were characterized using thin-layer chromatography (TLC), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), infrared spectroscopy (IR), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Physicochemical parameters including acid value, saponification value, specific gravity, and refractive index were determined through standard analytical methods. Additionally, qualitative assays were conducted to detect proteins, carbohydrates, steroids, tannins, gums, and mucilage. Comparative analysis revealed that the reflux-assisted extraction produced a higher yield and greater purity of Δ9-THC, with improved physicochemical stability compared to the soaking method. These results indicate that reflux condensation offers a more efficient and reproducible approach for cannabinoid extraction. The findings contribute to refining extraction methodologies and enhancing the quality of cannabinoid-based research and pharmaceutical formulations.},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Separation of Tetrahydrocannabinol Fraction from Cannabis Indica Extracts by Chromatographic Method AU - Shafqat Munir AU - Ubaid Ullah Khan AU - Imad Ud Din AU - Ijaz Ahhmad AU - Zafar Ali Sha AU - Abdul Rauf Y1 - 2025/12/29 PY - 2025 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjac.20251304.14 DO - 10.11648/j.sjac.20251304.14 T2 - Science Journal of Analytical Chemistry JF - Science Journal of Analytical Chemistry JO - Science Journal of Analytical Chemistry SP - 104 EP - 112 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2376-8053 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjac.20251304.14 AB - Cannabis indica contains a range of bioactive cannabinoids, among which tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) is the principal psychoactive compound with wide pharmacological applications. Optimizing extraction efficiency and purity is essential for both analytical and therapeutic uses. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of two solvent extraction techniques reflux condensation and long-term soaking for isolating Δ9-THC from C. indica leaves. Sample A was prepared using a reflux condenser to promote solvent recirculation and maintain elevated extraction temperatures, while Sample B was obtained by soaking the plant material in solvent for seven days under ambient conditions. The extracted oils were characterized using thin-layer chromatography (TLC), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), infrared spectroscopy (IR), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Physicochemical parameters including acid value, saponification value, specific gravity, and refractive index were determined through standard analytical methods. Additionally, qualitative assays were conducted to detect proteins, carbohydrates, steroids, tannins, gums, and mucilage. Comparative analysis revealed that the reflux-assisted extraction produced a higher yield and greater purity of Δ9-THC, with improved physicochemical stability compared to the soaking method. These results indicate that reflux condensation offers a more efficient and reproducible approach for cannabinoid extraction. The findings contribute to refining extraction methodologies and enhancing the quality of cannabinoid-based research and pharmaceutical formulations. VL - 13 IS - 4 ER -
Deapartment of Chemistry, Minhaj University, Lahore, Pakistan
Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Department of Chemistry, University of Wah, Wah Cantt, Pakistan
Department of Chemistry, University of Education, Lahore, Pakistan
Department of Agricultural Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Agriculture, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Department of Livestock and Poultry Production, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
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