Comparison of cannabinoids and terpenes profiles of different hemp extracts obtained from Felina and Santhica varieties cultivated in Belgium

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a widely-distributed herbaceous plant known for its abundant secondary metabolites diversity, such as cannabinoids and terpenes [1]. These compounds have been extensively studied for a wide range of therapeutic applications, making hemp a valuable resource in the medical field [2].
Our study compares the phytochemical profiles of extracts from two hemp varieties (Felina 32 and Santhica 70) cultivated in Gembloux (Belgium). Extractions were performed with either ethanol or acidified hexane (0.1% acetic acid in hexane v/v) at different temperatures, using a Pressurized Solvent Extraction (PSE) instrument. Major cannabinoids were quantified by an HPLC-UV/DAD method aimed at separating the acidic and the neutral forms of cannabinoids [3]. A GC-FID method using an internal standard was developed to quantitatively assess the terpenes composition of the extract.
Our results showed that yield extraction was higher with ethanol (14-27% w/w) than with hexane (5-14% w/w) for both varieties. Interestingly, we observed that cannabinoids and terpenes content is higher for the lowest extraction-yield solvent (hexane), indicating a better selectivity of hexane. Felina content in CBD-A and CBD (2,74% w/w) was similar to the Santhica content in CBG-A and CBG (2,38% w/w) in the raw material. However, metabolite contents decrease while increasing extraction temperature, especially for terpenes compounds.
In conclusion, our study highlights the importance of understanding extraction parameters for obtaining high-quality hemp extracts with specific cannabinoid and terpene profiles. These findings could have a noteworthy impact on the advancement of hemp-based therapeutic products that require consistent and standardized compositions.