Cannabis sativa: Extraction Methods for Phytocannabinoids -An Update

This review paper highlights and updates the recent robust extraction methods for phytocannabinoids, hydrodynamic extraction technology and use of vegetable oil as the solvent system. Hydrodynamic cannabis extraction is a recent development within the cannabis industry that can be used to produce full-spectrum cannabis extracts with high bioavailability. According to the patented hydrodynamic extraction technology by Clean Green Biosystems, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India, the system is the first of its kind to be able to use whole, freshly harvested cannabis materials. Clean Green Biosystems, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India reports that Hydyne is innovative new hydrodynamic extraction system that uses the entire fresh plant materials to preserve all the unique phytochemicals and phytonutrients compounds in a full spectrum/broad spectrum extract. Hydrodynamic system converts the cannabis plant material into a cannabis nano-emulsion by means of hydrodynamic force and ultrasonification by breaking the cell walls of the plant material and releases them into the aqueous phase. PhytoXTM (USA) is another new hydrodynamic extraction system developed by IASO Inc (Incline Village, Nevada, USA) that can process whole, fresh, un-dried cannabis plants, which maximizes plant utilization, reduces processing costs, and increases yields. Many traditional extraction methods can not guarantee the integrity of unstable compounds. Hydrodynamic extraction is designed to use fresh and whole plants, ensuring these volatile molecules are kept intact. Additionally, the distillation prevents the phytocannabinoids from thermal degradation, further protecting molecule integrity. The aroma of the resultant cannabis products is stronger than traditional extracts. Because the plant material is frozen in the preparation stage of the system, it allows the aromatic compounds to remain intact.