Otimização do processo de extração de canabinoides a partir do resíduo de cooperativa produtora de óleo de Cannabis para fins medicinais para crianças com epilepsia

Abstract

Cannabis sativa is a plant known for its diverse applications throughout history, including textile, recreational, and medicinal uses. Cannabinoids stand out as the main bioactive compounds, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), which have attracted increasing scientific interest due to their therapeutic properties, particularly in the treatment of refractory epilepsy in children. Despite this potential, in the Brazilian context there is a significant lack of standardization in the extraction processes employed by associations producing Cannabis oil. In this scenario, the selection of accessible and environmentally sustainable extraction solvents represents an approach that enables the production of therapeutic inputs at lower cost. Thus, this study proposes to evaluate the extraction process of cannabinoids from residues generated during Cannabis oil production by Brazilian associations, through the optimization of CBD extraction. Different extraction systems were assessed, including cachaça, acetone/methanol (2:1), methanol/hexane (9:1), ethyl acetate/methyl tertbutyl ether (1:1), methanol, limonene, and ethanol, with statistical analysis performed using ANOVA and Tukey’s test. The extraction procedure was optimized using Plackett–Burman design, full factorial design, and central composite design, considering extraction time, shaker rotation speed, mass-to-solvent ratio, and ultrasound time as independent variables. The response variable adopted was the ratio of absolute CBD/THC peak areas, determined by analysis of the extracts using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) with an Orbitrap analyzer. For cachaça, the optimized extraction conditions were 120 rpm shaker rotation, 14 hours extraction time, and a 1:25 mass-to-solvent ratio.