| Autor: |
Oliveira GAR; Pharmacy Department, Health Sciences School, University of Brasília, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil., Estrada-Semprun OE; Pharmacy Department, Health Sciences School, University of Brasília, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil., Arantes LC; Laboratory of Forensic Chemistry and Physics, Institute of Criminalistics, Civil Police of the Federal District, Brasilia 70610-907, Brazil., Rodrigues PM; Pharmacy Department, Health Sciences School, University of Brasília, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil., Ribeiro RA; Pharmacy Department, Health Sciences School, University of Brasília, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil., Fagg CW; Department of Botany, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil., Magalhães PO; Pharmacy Department, Health Sciences School, University of Brasília, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil., Fonseca-Bazzo YM; Pharmacy Department, Health Sciences School, University of Brasília, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil., Silveira D; Pharmacy Department, Health Sciences School, University of Brasília, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil. |
| Abstrakt: |
There are inconclusive claims in the scientific literature that the species Trema micranthum , widely distributed throughout the Brazilian territory, may produce phytocannabinoids, potentially serving as an alternative to Cannabis sativa . In this study, we conducted a comprehensive investigation to assess the presence of phytocannabinoids in two Trema micranthum samples collected in the Midwest region of Brazil. In trying to detect cannabinoids in T. micranthum , a recommended cannabis screening test was employed, the Fast Blue BB Salt (FBBBS) colorimetric assay, followed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and instrumental techniques: high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). When employed without chloroform extraction, the FBBBS reagent yielded positive results for extracts from all parts of T. micranthum (leaves, branches, fruits, and inflorescences). However, these initial positive results from the FBBBS test, suggesting the presence of cannabinoids, were not corroborated by FBBBS followed by chloroform extraction, TLC, or the instrumental techniques used in this study. These additional outcomes suggest that the positive FBBBS test results were likely due to the presence of other phenolic compounds rather than phytocannabinoids. For example, the presence of vitexin-like compounds in T. micranthum extracts might explain the positive FBBBS test results. Therefore, new assertions that T. micranthum produces cannabinoids will require the support of more selective experiments to avoid false-positive claims based on less selective screening tests. |
