Technological Approach for the Development and Optimization of Decarboxylation Processes in Dried Flower and Ethanolic Extracts of Cannabis for Medical Purposes

Cannabis is an annual, dioecious, self-pollinating plant, from
the genus of flowering plants belonging to the Cannabaceae
family. Three main species of cannabis, are commonly
recognized: Cannabis sativa spp. sativa L., Cannabis sativa
spp. indica L. and Cannabis sativa spp. ruderalis L.
Preparations obtained from cannabis are used for various
medical purposes, including the treatment of stress,
nervousness, anxiety, depression, epilepsy, inflammatory
processes, pain and others. Cannabis has also been shown to
support maintain intestinal flora, alleviate nausea and
vomiting—particularly in cancer patients during
chemotherapy or radiation therapy and relieve pain of
various origins. Cannabis-based preparations can also be
used for muscle spasms and for the prevention of
cardiovascular diseases (Hourfane et al., 2023).
Phytocannabinoids the bioactive compounds naturally
synthesized in the cannabis plant, are the key components
responsible for many of these therapeutic effects. The most
important of these phytocannabinoids include: Δ9-
tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and Δ8-
tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC) – a psychoactive
cannabinoids, cannabidiol (CBD) – a non-psychoactive
cannabinoid, cannabigerol (CBG), Δ9-
tetrahydrocannabivarin (Δ9-THCV), cannabivarin (CBV),
cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabinol (CBN),
cannabichromene (CBC), cannabinodiol (CBND),
cannabielsoin (CBE), cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabitriol
(CBT), tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and
cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), which are synthesized from a
common precursor – cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) (Singh,
Yadav et al., 2023).