A High-Throughput Potency Determination of 19 Cannabinoids in Hemp Plant Material and Finished Tinctures using LabSolutions and the Cannabis Analyzer for Potency

Significance of the topic

The rapid and accurate measurement of cannabinoid profiles is essential for quality control, regulatory compliance and therapeutic research. The surge in hemp and CBD products following the 2018 Farm Bill has created a need for high-throughput analytical methods capable of quantifying both major and minor cannabinoids in plant and finished formulations.

Objectives and overview of the study

This application study presents an eight-minute high-performance liquid chromatography method for simultaneous quantitation of 19 cannabinoids. By leveraging the Shimadzu Cannabis Analyzer for Potency and LabSolutions software, the approach aims to combine speed, precision and broad cannabinoid coverage in both dry hemp material and finished tincture oils.

Used Instrumentation

• Shimadzu Cannabis Analyzer for Potency – fully integrated HPLC system with built-in UV detector monitored at 220 nm
• NexLeaf CBX analytical column (150 × 4.6 mm, 2.7 µm) with matching guard cartridge
• Gradient pump, column oven set at 50 °C and autosampler (5 µL injections)

Methodology and sample preparation

• Mobile phases: 0.1 % formic acid in water (A) and in acetonitrile (B); gradient ramp from 70 % to 85 % B in 6 min, returning to 70 % B for re-equilibration
• Flow rate of 1.5 mL/min, injection volume of 5 µL
• Calibration: six standards from 0.5 to 80 mg/L, weighted linear regression with seven replicates each
• Dry flower extraction: 100 mg sample ground with steel balls in methanol, vortexed and diluted 100×; filtration with 0.45 µm membrane
• Tincture dilution: 10 µL oil into isopropanol, methanol added to 10 mL final (1 000× dilution); filtered prior to injection

Main results and discussion

• Linearity: correlation coefficients (R2) above 0.994 for all 19 cannabinoids
• Accuracy and precision: QC standards at low, medium and high levels showed recoveries between 95 % and 104 %, with RSDs below 3 %
• Resolution: full baseline separation achieved for all analytes within eight minutes, including a wash step
• Repeatability: overlay of seven injections at 80 mg/L demonstrated consistent peak shapes and retention times
• Case studies: a non-compliant hemp sample contained total THC of 1.02 % (wt %), exceeding the 0.3 % legal threshold; a compliant hemp flower showed 77.9 % CBD (wt %); a commercial tincture yielded 67.9 mg/mL CBD

Benefits and practical applications

• High throughput analysis suitable for routine potency testing in regulatory, industrial and research laboratories
• Comprehensive profiling of minor cannabinoids supports studies on the entourage effect
• Simple sample preparation workflows for both plant and oil matrices reduce turnaround time
• Custom calculation features in LabSolutions automate dry-weight correction and potency reporting

Future trends and possibilities

• Expansion to include emerging cannabinoids and degradation products such as CBN and CBG acids
• Integration with mass spectrometry detectors to improve selectivity in complex matrices
• Automation of sample handling and data processing for increased throughput and reduced manual intervention
• Development of multi-residue methods for pesticides and solvents in parallel with cannabinoid profiling

Conclusion

The eight-minute HPLC method on the Shimadzu Cannabis Analyzer for Potency delivers accurate, precise and high-throughput quantitation of 19 cannabinoids in dry flower and tincture matrices. Its robust performance and streamlined workflow make it an effective tool for potency determination, regulatory compliance and quality assurance in the expanding cannabis market.