Ultrasound-assisted extraction of volatile compounds from industrial Cannabis sativa L. inflorescences

This study investigated the use of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) to recovery volatile compounds from the inflorescences of a fiber type Cannabis sativa L. cultivar. The results show that ultrasonic treatment not longer than 5 min allows to obtain an enhanced concentration of terpenes in comparison with maceration. Instead, an ultrasonic treatment longer than 5 min increased the concentration of δ-9-tetraidrocannabinol (THC). A preliminary screening of cannabis inflorescences scent was performed by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) avoiding the chemical modification and artifact formation that can occur in conventional methods . Industrial relevance. Inflorescences of fiber type Cannabis sativa cultivars are generally considered waste parts for fiber industry, although the inflorescences' volatiles are pleasant to the human sensory system. Cannabis scent originate from volatile monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes . Traditionally, the recovery of floral fragrances from plants is by water distillation (hydro-distillation) or steam distillation to produce essential oils. However, these techniques take at least several hours and require the application of heating, which can produce the degradation of thermo labile compounds present in the starting plant material. Ultrasound-assisted extraction can be use as alternative method to extract aroma compounds from inflorescences of fiber type Cannabis sativa. The extracts so obtained could be used as ingredients for perfumes (cosmetic industry) or flavorings for beverages (food industry