DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF AN LC-MS/MS METHOD FOR THE QUANTIFICATION OF SIX CANNABINOIDS IN COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS

Ruxandra ȘTEFĂNESCU; Robert-Alexandru VLAD; Silvia IMRE; Amelia TERO-VESCAN; Bianca-Eugenia ŐSZ; Dan-Dragoș SITA; Lénárd FARCZÁDI

doi:10.24193/subbchem.2025.1.12

DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF AN LC-MS/MS METHOD FOR THE QUANTIFICATION OF SIX CANNABINOIDS IN COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS

Authors

Ruxandra ȘTEFĂNESCU George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gheorghe Marinescu Street, no. 38, 540142, Târgu Mureș, Romania https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3346-3867
Robert-Alexandru VLAD George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gheorghe Marinescu Street, no. 38, 540142, Târgu Mureș, Romania. robert.vlad@umfst.ro
Silvia IMRE George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gheorghe Marinescu Street, no. 38, 540142, Târgu Mureș, Romania; George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, Chromatography and mass spectrometry laboratory, Center for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, Gheorghe Marinescu Street, no. 38, 540142, Târgu Mureș, Romania https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5186-9107
Amelia TERO-VESCAN George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, Faculty of Medicine in English, Gheorghe Marinescu Street, no. 38, 540142, Târgu Mureș, Romania https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9704-869X
Bianca-Eugenia ŐSZ George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gheorghe Marinescu Street, no. 38, 540142, Târgu Mureș, Romania https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9704-869X
Dan-Dragoș SITA George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, Faculty of Medicinal Dentistry, Gheorghe Marinescu Street, no. 38, 540142, Târgu Mureș, Romania
Lénárd FARCZÁDI George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, Chromatography and mass spectrometry laboratory, Center for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, Gheorghe Marinescu Street, no. 38, 540142, Târgu Mureș, Romania

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24193/subbchem.2025.1.12

Keywords:

cannabinoids, cannabidiol, LC-MS/MS, food supplements

Abstract

Cannabidiol (CBD) oils and products have become extremely popular in the last decade. These products are marketed as having different effects and are recommended for many chronic diseases. Various food supplements with CBD are now available on the market, but due to legislative lacks the declared concentration of CBD and other cannabinoids in the products is often significantly different compared with the real concentration. Products that don't meet quality criteria result from a lack of control and standardization. The aim of this study was to develop and validate an LC-MS/MS method for the routine quantification of cannabinoids in herbal drugs and food supplements. An LC-MS/MS method was developed using an UHPLC system coupled with a QTOF mass spectrometer, and the chromatographic separations were performed on a C18 column with isocratic elution, electrospray ionization in negative mode with a run-time of 10 minutes. According to the international guidelines, the method was validated concerning linearity, selectivity, stability, precision, and accuracy. Out of the ten tested products, in three of the supplements, significant differences were noticed in CBD concentration compared to the declared content. Other cannabinoids were also identified in some of the samples. This study raises awareness regarding insufficient controlled food supplements.

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STUDIA UBB CHEMIA, Volume 70 (LXX), No. 1, March 2025

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Published

2025-03-20

How to Cite

ȘTEFĂNESCU, R., VLAD, R.-A., IMRE, S., TERO-VESCAN, A., ŐSZ, B.-E., SITA, D.-D., & FARCZÁDI, L. (2025). DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF AN LC-MS/MS METHOD FOR THE QUANTIFICATION OF SIX CANNABINOIDS IN COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS. Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai Chemia, 70(1), 173–190. https://doi.org/10.24193/subbchem.2025.1.12