PHARMA FOCUS//CAMs & Health Supplements
The highs of cannabis testing The medicinal benefits of cannabis are well known. A brief literature search on the topic uncovers a tsunami of information with claims spanning all major disease groupings. V&M Analytical Toxicology Laboratory Services has seen a significant increase in the number of cannabis related samples submitted for testing. RIGHT
LEFT
Cape. It specialises in chemical analysis and was recently audited by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). Mauritz Wentzel, director of V&M, comments: ‘We have noted a significant increase in the number of cannabis-related samples submitted
G
for testing. These include powders, lobally there is a strong indication of efforts now implemented in the commercialisation of
The instrument lab (left) and prep lab (right) at V&M Analytical Toxicology Laboratory Services
of a suitable product or supplement is
cannabis, underscored by a recent SABC
likely to be met with very good returns.
news article entitled Cannabis craze
Yet the poor oral bioavailability (six to
weeds out junior mining field.1
19 percent)6,7, largely attributed to high
According to the article, the world’s
lipophilicity, presents a challenge. Recent
top three listed cannabis companies
findings8 that Cmax is increased during fed
– Canopy Growth, Tilray and Aurora
states and in lipid formulations are clues
Cannabis – have a combined market
to be considered when applying new
value of around USD30 billion. This year,
formulation strategies with the end
consumers are expected to spend over
goal of improved bioavailability and
USD7 billion on cannabis products in
product differentiation.
Canada alone, reports Deloitte. The recent Cape Town Cannabis Expo drew 16 500 visitors on its first day.2
Local developments Two recent events have helped unlock the mainstream commercial development of
Clinical targets
cannabis-related products in South Africa.
Over the last 25 years, the
The constitutional court ruling on
endocannabinoid system (ECS)
18 September 2018 effectively
has emerged as an important
decriminalised the use or possession of
neuromodulatory system. ECS is
cannabis by an adult in private.
comprised of cannabinoid receptors,
oils, crude plant extracts and all manner of formulations. Our expertise in the development of high resolution, stability indicating chromatographic methods for complex herbal formulations has helped prepare us for the analysis of cannabis samples. We are able to accurately measure the concentration of various cannabinoids, including CBD and THC, ensuring a product’s compliance (<0.001 percent THC and <0.0075 percent CBD). We can also measure the concentration of various other important plant cannabinoids, including CBDA, CBG, CBGA, CBN, CBDV and CBC.’ The array of analytical instrumentation at the state of the art lab covers the broad spectrum of tests required for effective cannabis testing. This includes HPLCs (cannabinoids and mycotoxins), LC-MS/MS (pesticides), ICP-MS (heavy metals Hg, Cd and Pb), GC-FID/FID (residual solvents) and GC-MS (cannabinoids). •
Thereafter, the former minister of health,
endogenous cannabinoids
Dr Aaron Motsoaledi announced on
(endocannabinoids) and the
15 May that certain preparations
enzymes responsible for the synthesis
containing CBD are now excluded from
and degradation of these.3 The
the provisions of the medicines and related
endocannabinoid anandamide
substances act, 1965 (Act No. 101 of 1965).
has been linked to the so-called
CBD is limited to a maximum daily dose of
‘runners high’, experienced by some
20mg while processed products are only to
4. bjsm.bmj.com/content/38/5/536
endurance athletes.4
contain the naturally occurring quantity of
5. blog.drugbankplus.com/medicinal-marijuana-and-epilepsy
cannabinoids found in the source material
6. Biomed Environ Mass Spectrom. 1986 Feb;13(2):77 to 83
The effects of certain plant-based cannabinoids, THC in particular needs
and not more than 0.001 percent THC or
no introduction. Another is cannabidiol
0.0075 percent total CBD.
(CBD), which on 25 June 2018 became the first CBD based product available on the US Market, as Epidiolex.5
V&M Analytical Toxicology Laboratory
Supplementation with CBD is
Services is a private ISO 17025 testing
on the increase and presentation
18
To measure is to know
| JULY 2019 | P C Review
laboratory located in George, Western
REFERENCES 1. www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/cannabis-craze-weeds-outjunior-mining-field 2. www.bizcommunity.com/Event/196/40/59675 3. Hui-Chen Lu, Ken Mackie, An introduction to the endogenous cannabinoid system, Biological Psychiatry, http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.07.028
7. Chem Biodivers. 2007 Aug; 4(8): 1770 to 1804. 8. A Systematic Review on the Pharmacokinetics of Cannabidiol in Humans Sophie A. Millar, Nicole L. Stone, Andrew S. Yates,and Saoirse E. O'Sullivan
V&M Analytical Toxicology Laboratory Services – www.vm-atls.com
