Identification of aroma compounds from Cannabis

Hemp is a complex system of chemicals which interacts with one another. The most important chemicals in cannabis are cannabinoids and terpenoids. These compounds evince synergism that makes a number of medicinal effects, e.g. antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and analgesic. Volatiles cause aroma of cannabis and have therapeutic effects when it is inhaled. The main of this study was to identify sensory active compounds in the varieties of cannabis by GC-MS/FID and sensory analysis by GC-MS/O. There were 7 samples of varieties to analysis: Cannatonic (CT) Conspiracy Kush (CK) Jillybean (JB) Jacks Cleaner (JC), Jack Skellington (JS) Nordle (N) and Nurse Jackie (NJ). Selection of these varieties was based on its genetic origin - the ratio of morphological types C. sativa and C. indica. Aromatic compounds were extracted by using SPME fiber. Sensory analysis was performed by one trained sniffer. The results show that the most represented volatiles in cannabis varieties (both in C. sativa and C. indica) is myrcene. This terpenoid was in the greatest amount in variety of N (33.4%), NJ (29.8%), CT (29.7%) and JB (29.7%). Then beta-caryophyllene had a large number of presence with high ratio in CK variety (21.1%), JC (20%) and NJ (14%). In the varieties with higher level of morphotype C. indica (CK, N), there were limonene and alpha-humulene represented. Results based on the sensory analysis showed, that sensory activity of limonene, linalool and alpha-humulene is higher in varieties with greater ratio of C. indica. The varieties with a higher ratio of morphotype C. sativa were rich in myrcene and terpinolene