HPLC Analysis of Active Ingredient Content of Cannabidiol (CBD) Products Commonly Used by UT Tyler Students

Unlike marijuana and its major component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), hemp products rich in cannabidiol (CBD) and containing less than 0.3% of THC are legal in Texas. This legal status of CBD products has resulted in an unprecedented increase in unregulated CBD incorporation in virtually all forms of human and animal products (oils, capsules, topical products, food products"¦etc..). CBD products are not manufactured under standard pharmaceutical practices. Therefore, variabilities in quantities and formulation of cannabinoid content results in unpredictable product outcomes including posing a health risk. The two purposes of the study were to determine cannabinoid contents of CBD products most commonly used among UT Tyler students and to determined CBD content recovery under condition that simulate gastric and intestinal physiological fluids. Cannabinoid contents were extracted at 37oC under three different conditions: a mix of 1:1 methanol: isopropanol (M/I), simulated gastric fluid (SGF), and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF). Extracted cannabinoids were fractionated using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a C18 column with a linear gradient of 70-95% acetonitrile in water over 8 min and quantified using absorbance at 220 nm. So far two CBD products, DF01 and DF02, were analyzed. For both products, we were able to recover only ~75% of labeled CBD content in the M/I mixture. In addition, CBD content recovery of DF01 in either SGF or SIF was <65% of labeled amount. The current lack of control over the processing of CBD products has led to products that do not contain the levels of CBD claimed or processed in a way that is not suitable for CBD dissolution in the gastric and intestinal fluids, potentially leading to variable CBD dosing.