EFFECT OF EXTRACTION TIME ON ESSENTIAL OIL EXTRACTION FROM MEDICINAL CANNABIS USING SIMPLE DISTILLATION METHOD

Abstract

This research aimed to study the effect of hydro-distillation extraction time on the chemical composition of essential oils from Northern Lights cannabis strain using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) analysis. Samples were collected at 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 minutes of extraction. The results showed that the main components of the essential oil, including caryophyllene, trans-alpha-bergamotene, alpha-caryophyllene, guaiol, and dronabinol, varied with extraction time. Some compounds, such as caryophyllene, decreased over time, while others, like guaiol, increased. The optimal extraction time range was found to be 40-80 minutes, yielding a total compound content of 86.14-94.81%. This study provides valuable information on the changes in chemical composition of cannabis essential oils according to extraction time, which can be applied to improve extraction processes for medical cannabis oil production.