The effect of osmotic treatment on cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content in industrial hemp

Abstract

Two major cannabinoids are present in Cannabis plants. The first one is a psychoactive cannabinoid substance (-)-trans-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, well-known as THC, based on which medicinal cannabis is categorized as a prohibited narcotic. The other one is cannabidiol (CBD), presented specifically in hemp. CBD is familiar as a pharmacologically active substance, and its application is becoming increasingly important in medicine. Many studies testify to osmotic treatment’s success in removing water from different plant and other materials. Sugar beet molasses has proven to be an efficient osmotic solution in water removal, nutritional enrichment, food safety and quality aspects. The use of a mild temperature regime to preserve plant tissue and nutritional values is one of this process’s advantages. This work is concerned with determining the effect of the drying temperature on CBD and THC content after the osmotic treatment (OT) compared to the natural drying at ambient temperature.