Conversion of Cannabidiol (CBD) into Psychotropic Cannabinoids including Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC): A Controversy in the Scientific Literature
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a naturally occurring, non-psychotropic cannabinoid of the hemp plant <i>Cannabis sativa</i> L. and has been known to induce several physiological and pharmacological effects. While CBD is approved as a medicinal product subject to prescription, it is also widely sol...
Main Authors: | , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-06-01
|
Series: | Toxics |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/8/2/41 |
id |
doaj-8746259a5df046dbaadc916fe228d602 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-8746259a5df046dbaadc916fe228d6022020-11-25T02:50:10ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042020-06-018414110.3390/toxics8020041Conversion of Cannabidiol (CBD) into Psychotropic Cannabinoids including Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC): A Controversy in the Scientific LiteraturePatricia Golombek0Marco Müller1Ines Barthlott2Constanze Sproll3Dirk W. Lachenmeier4Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weissenburger Straße 3, 76187 Karlsruhe, GermanyChemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weissenburger Straße 3, 76187 Karlsruhe, GermanyChemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weissenburger Straße 3, 76187 Karlsruhe, GermanyChemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weissenburger Straße 3, 76187 Karlsruhe, GermanyChemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weissenburger Straße 3, 76187 Karlsruhe, GermanyCannabidiol (CBD) is a naturally occurring, non-psychotropic cannabinoid of the hemp plant <i>Cannabis sativa</i> L. and has been known to induce several physiological and pharmacological effects. While CBD is approved as a medicinal product subject to prescription, it is also widely sold over the counter (OTC) in the form of food supplements, cosmetics and electronic cigarette liquids. However, regulatory difficulties arise from its origin being a narcotic plant or its status as an unapproved novel food ingredient. Regarding the consumer safety of these OTC products, the question whether or not CBD might be degraded into psychotropic cannabinoids, most prominently tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), under in vivo conditions initiated an ongoing scientific debate. This feature review aims to summarize the current knowledge of CBD degradation processes, specifically the results of in vitro and in vivo studies. Additionally, the literature on psychotropic effects of cannabinoids was carefully studied with a focus on the degradants and metabolites of CBD, but data were found to be sparse. While the literature is contradictory, most studies suggest that CBD is not converted to psychotropic THC under in vivo conditions. Nevertheless, it is certain that CBD degrades to psychotropic products in acidic environments. Hence, the storage stability of commercial formulations requires more attention in the future.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/8/2/41cannabidioltetrahydrocannabinoldegradationpsychotropic effects<i>Cannabis sativa</i> |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Patricia Golombek Marco Müller Ines Barthlott Constanze Sproll Dirk W. Lachenmeier |
spellingShingle |
Patricia Golombek Marco Müller Ines Barthlott Constanze Sproll Dirk W. Lachenmeier Conversion of Cannabidiol (CBD) into Psychotropic Cannabinoids including Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC): A Controversy in the Scientific Literature Toxics cannabidiol tetrahydrocannabinol degradation psychotropic effects <i>Cannabis sativa</i> |
author_facet |
Patricia Golombek Marco Müller Ines Barthlott Constanze Sproll Dirk W. Lachenmeier |
author_sort |
Patricia Golombek |
title |
Conversion of Cannabidiol (CBD) into Psychotropic Cannabinoids including Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC): A Controversy in the Scientific Literature |
title_short |
Conversion of Cannabidiol (CBD) into Psychotropic Cannabinoids including Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC): A Controversy in the Scientific Literature |
title_full |
Conversion of Cannabidiol (CBD) into Psychotropic Cannabinoids including Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC): A Controversy in the Scientific Literature |
title_fullStr |
Conversion of Cannabidiol (CBD) into Psychotropic Cannabinoids including Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC): A Controversy in the Scientific Literature |
title_full_unstemmed |
Conversion of Cannabidiol (CBD) into Psychotropic Cannabinoids including Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC): A Controversy in the Scientific Literature |
title_sort |
conversion of cannabidiol (cbd) into psychotropic cannabinoids including tetrahydrocannabinol (thc): a controversy in the scientific literature |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Toxics |
issn |
2305-6304 |
publishDate |
2020-06-01 |
description |
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a naturally occurring, non-psychotropic cannabinoid of the hemp plant <i>Cannabis sativa</i> L. and has been known to induce several physiological and pharmacological effects. While CBD is approved as a medicinal product subject to prescription, it is also widely sold over the counter (OTC) in the form of food supplements, cosmetics and electronic cigarette liquids. However, regulatory difficulties arise from its origin being a narcotic plant or its status as an unapproved novel food ingredient. Regarding the consumer safety of these OTC products, the question whether or not CBD might be degraded into psychotropic cannabinoids, most prominently tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), under in vivo conditions initiated an ongoing scientific debate. This feature review aims to summarize the current knowledge of CBD degradation processes, specifically the results of in vitro and in vivo studies. Additionally, the literature on psychotropic effects of cannabinoids was carefully studied with a focus on the degradants and metabolites of CBD, but data were found to be sparse. While the literature is contradictory, most studies suggest that CBD is not converted to psychotropic THC under in vivo conditions. Nevertheless, it is certain that CBD degrades to psychotropic products in acidic environments. Hence, the storage stability of commercial formulations requires more attention in the future. |
topic |
cannabidiol tetrahydrocannabinol degradation psychotropic effects <i>Cannabis sativa</i> |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/8/2/41 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT patriciagolombek conversionofcannabidiolcbdintopsychotropiccannabinoidsincludingtetrahydrocannabinolthcacontroversyinthescientificliterature AT marcomuller conversionofcannabidiolcbdintopsychotropiccannabinoidsincludingtetrahydrocannabinolthcacontroversyinthescientificliterature AT inesbarthlott conversionofcannabidiolcbdintopsychotropiccannabinoidsincludingtetrahydrocannabinolthcacontroversyinthescientificliterature AT constanzesproll conversionofcannabidiolcbdintopsychotropiccannabinoidsincludingtetrahydrocannabinolthcacontroversyinthescientificliterature AT dirkwlachenmeier conversionofcannabidiolcbdintopsychotropiccannabinoidsincludingtetrahydrocannabinolthcacontroversyinthescientificliterature |
_version_ |
1724739597989052416 |