Isolation of pure cannabinoids from Cannabis

US11117852B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI · US

Inventors

• Mahmoud A. ElSohly · Oxford, US
• Waseem Gul · Oxford, US
• Mohamed M. Radwan · Oxford, US
• Amira S. Wanas · Oxford, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 4, 2018
• Grant date: Sep 14, 2021
• Expiry date: Apr 4, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2030/884
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC or THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are major constituents of the Cannabis plant that have pharmacological properties with potential therapeutic value. This invention is directed to processes for large scale isolation of these two and other cannabinoids from the Cannabis sativa plant. This is accomplished through the discovery that protected amino acid esters of the cannabinoids are easier to separate using normal phase silica column chromatography. Mild base hydrolysis of the esters regenerates the free cannabinoids in a purified form. The invention is also applicable to the isolation of other cannabinoids from Cannabis extracts.