Planta Med 2010; 76(7): 743-750
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1240628
Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
Original Papers
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Assessment of Cannabinoids Content in Micropropagated Plants of Cannabis sativa and Their Comparison with Conventionally Propagated Plants and Mother Plant during Developmental Stages of Growth

Suman Chandra1 , Hemant Lata1 , Zlatko Mehmedic1 , Ikhlas A. Khan1 , 2 , Mahmoud A. ElSohly1 , 3
  • 1National Center for Natural Product Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
  • 2Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
  • 3Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
Further Information

Publication History

received May 18, 2009 revised Sept. 8, 2009

accepted October 27, 2009

Publication Date:
30 November 2009 (online)

Abstract

Gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC‐FID) was used to assess the chemical profile and quantification of cannabinoids to identify the differences, if existing, in the chemical constituents of in vitro propagated plants (IVP), conventionally grown plants (VP) and indoor grown mother plants (MP-Indoor) of a high THC yielding variety of Cannabis sativa L. during different developmental stages of growth. In general, THC content in all groups increased with plant age up to a highest level during the budding stage where the THC content reached a plateau before the onset of senescence. The pattern of changes observed in the concentration of other cannabinoids content with plants age has followed a similar trend in all groups of plants. Qualitatively, cannabinoids profiles obtained using GC‐FID, in MP-indoor, VP and IVP plants were found to be similar to each other and to that of the field grown mother plant (MP field) of C. sativa. Minor differences observed in cannabinoids concentration within and among the groups were not found to be statistically significant. Our results confirm the clonal fidelity of IVP plants of C. sativa and suggest that the biochemical mechanism used in this study to produce the micropropagated plants does not affect the metabolic content and can be used for the mass propagation of true to type plants of this species for commercial pharmaceutical use.

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Ph.D. Suman Chandra

National Center for Natural Product Research
Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
School of Pharmacy
University of Mississippi

University, MS 38677

USA

Phone: + 1 66 29 15 69 54

Fax: + 1 66 29 15 55 87

Email: suman@olemiss.edu