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Analytical approaches for the determination of phytocannabinoids and endocannabinoids in human matrices
Author(s) -
Battista Natalia,
Sergi Manuel,
Montesano Camilla,
Napoletano Sabino,
Compag Dario,
Maccarrone Mauro
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
drug testing and analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.065
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1942-7611
pISSN - 1942-7603
DOI - 10.1002/dta.1574
Subject(s) - endocannabinoid system , delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol , anandamide , chemistry , identification (biology) , cannabis , computational biology , cannabinoid , cannabinoid receptor , psychology , biology , psychiatry , biochemistry , receptor , botany , agonist
Over the last two decades, the role played by phytocannabinoids and endocannabinoids in medicine has gained increasing interest in the scientific community. Upon identification of the plant compound Δ 9 ‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and of the endogenous substance anandamide (AEA), different methodological approaches and innovative techniques have been developed, in order to evaluate the content of these molecules in various human matrices. In this review, we discuss the analytical methods that are currently used for the identification of phytocannabinoids and endocannabinoids, and we summarize the benefits and limitations of these procedures. Moreover, we provide an overview of the main biological matrices that have been analyzed to date for qualitative detection and quantitative determination of these compounds. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.