Natural cannabinoids of cannabis and methods of analysis

Abstract

Cannabis has gained a lot of popularity in last few years not only because of its use as illicit drug but due to its use as food, fiber and medicine. It is a complex mixture of constituents which contain a unique class of secondary metabolites called phytocannabinoids. In general, so far a total of 565 constituents including 120 phytocannabinoids have been reported in Cannabis sativa. This chapter discusses the chemistry of phytocannabinoids in the plant with particular emphasis on the A9-THC type of cannabinoids and different analytical methods available for cannabinoids analysis in cannabis plant and cannabis products.