Journal:Does cannabis extract obtained from cannabis flowers with maximum allowed residual level of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A have an impact on human safety and health?
| Full article title | Does cannabis extract obtained from cannabis flowers with maximum allowed residual level of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A have an impact on human safety and health? |
|---|---|
| Journal | Frontiers in Medicine |
| Author(s) | Serafimovska1, Tijana; Stefanovski, Sasho; Erler, Joachim; Keskovski, Zlatko; Stefkov, Gjoshe; Mitevska, Marija; Serafimovska, Marija D.; Balkanov, Trajan; Ribarska, Jasmina T. |
| Author affiliation(s) | Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje, NYSK Holdings, Diapharm GmbH & Co. KG, Goce Delchev University |
| Primary contact | Email: serafimovskatijana at gmail dot com |
| Editors | Bolcato, Matteo |
| Year published | 2021 |
| Volume and issue | 8 |
| Article # | 759856 |
| DOI | 10.3389/fmed.2021.759856 |
| ISSN | 2296-858X |
| Distribution license | Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International |
| Website | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.759856/full |
| Download | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.759856/pdf (PDF) |
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Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the cannabis extract obtained from cannabis flowers that contain the maximum allowed level of mycotoxins affects human safety and health. For that purpose, a novel method of liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed and validated for the determination of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A (OchA) in cannabis extracts to demonstrate that this analytical method is suitable for the intended experimental design.
Methods: Experimental design was done by adding maximum allowed concentration of aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2) and OchA according to the European Pharmacopeia related to cannabis flowers. The concentration of aflatoxins and OchA was determined using the same LC-MS/MS analytical method on the initial plant material (dry flower) before preparing the spiked sample and after obtaining decarboxylated extract with ethanol 96%.
Results: The results obtained indicate that aflatoxins and OchA, primarily added to the cannabis dried flowers, were also determined into the obtained final extract in amounts much higher (m/m) than in the initial plant material.
Conclusion: With this experiment, we have shown that mycotoxins, especially aflatoxins, which are extremely toxic secondary metabolites, can reach critical values in cannabis extracts obtained from dry cannabis flowers with the maximum allowed quantity of mycotoxins. This can pose a great risk to consumers and their health, especially to those with compromised immune systems.
Keywords: mycotoxins, aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, determination liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS), cannabis extracts
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This presentation is faithful to the original, with only a few minor changes to presentation. Some grammar and punctuation was cleaned up to improve readability. In some cases important information was missing from the references, and that information was added.
