GMP-compliant cannabinoid based therapeutic actives

Medical Cannabis Extraction

There are worldwide rules controlling residual solvents in medicines. The alcohol solvent used in medicinal cannabis extraction, often ethanol, “dissolves” the plant material. The liquid is then frequently filtered before the alcohol is eventually eliminated by evaporation [1]. The intrinsic polarity of these solvents, which means they have a propensity to combine with water and destroy water-soluble compounds like chlorophyll, is one of the largest hurdles. Please be aware that only methanol is one of the restricted solvents that can be used in pharmaceutical applications.

This procedure may be carried out in a vacuum or at atmospheric pressure, however it may take some time. Because ethanol is extremely flammable, the facility needs to be appropriately engineered. Years of expertise in the proper design of flammable and hazardous materials in clean rooms have been accumulated by our pharmaceutical engineers.

Carbon Dioxide Cannabis Extraction

This procedure uses carbon dioxide to extract cannabis constituents from the plant’s matrix rather than alcohol. However, in this instance, high pressure and heat are utilised to make CO2 supercritical, which means it behaves both like a liquid and a gas. There are several strategies to consider, including CO2 extraction, because using a reagent of any type can increase costs and clean-up time.

The supercritical CO2 is then condensed once the cannabis constituents have been removed, creating a liquid that may be filtered and utilised again. As a result, extremely little reagent is utilised. This technology is cost-effective to use and requires less waste to be disposed of.

Hydrocarbon extraction

Butane is used as the extraction solvent to produce butane hash oil. Cannabis and liquid butane are first combined in a pressurised and heated apparatus to begin the process. The butane solvent can then be eliminated via vacuum-assisted evaporation. Butane becomes a vapour in the vacuum, which makes it simpler to remove.

Solvent-free extractions

It is important to note that simpler methods exist for processing cannabis and removing useful substances from the plant’s matrix. For instance, kief may be easily removed from cannabis buds using simple grinding and sifting techniques. Trichomes, which may be found on many plants, including cannabis, are made up in part of these crystalline forms. Cannabis female plants develop trichomes, which are largely defensive structures, during blooming. Herbivores find the plant unappealing due to its extreme bitter flavour and strong scents, which are also thought to prevent some fungal development. Upon being removed from the cannabis flower, kief resembles little more than a powder or pollen. Additionally, this powder may be used in cannabis preparations to increase potency or used alone as a standalone product because trichrome synthesis of terpenes and cannabinoids is extremely concentrated.

Another illustration of a simpler, solvent-free cannabis extract is traditional hash, often known as hashish. Once more, the goal is to isolate the trichomes from the plant matter since they have the largest concentration of advantageous chemicals. There are two major ways to make hash; one involves breaking up frozen cannabis buds into ever-tinier pieces over a screen. Trichomes are removed from the plant throughout the process, falling through the sieve before being crushed into blocks. The other main method of solvent-free hash extraction includes separating the trichomes from the bud using freezing water. They can then be crushed into a hash block after drying.

Over the past few of years, rosin has also gained a lot of popularity. Rosin, a transparent material often with a sap-like consistency, is made from flowers, hash, or kief. It produces a product that is quite comparable to the more time-consuming, costly, and solvent-based butane extraction and is created by applying heat and pressure to the substance you desire to extract from. Analytical testing has shown that this straightforward method efficiently recovers cannabinoids and terpenes without even the slightest chance of releasing harmful solvent residues like butane. This method’s main appeal is without a doubt its simplicity.

The material is squeezed using a flat heat press machine, but only at a certain temperature and pressure, and the extract is then scraped off. Ultrasonic technology is also becoming a more popular choice.

References

[1] Quality Guidelines

Share the post:

Related Posts

Leave your details below to receive our product catalogue

By submitting your details you agree to receive news and company updates from GESLabs.

CBD Isolate Natural

Parameters
Specification
Formulation
>98% CBD
Appearance
White crystalline powder
Packaging
1kg HDPE container
Storage
Tightly closed, protected from light, 15 - 25° C
Shelf Life
24-months (stability ongoing)
Extraction
Ethanol
Origin
South Africa
Stability Status
Conducted according to ICH stability guidelines
Long term studies up to: 24 months (25°C±2°C, 60% ± 5%RH)
Accelerated studies up to: 6 months (40°C±2°C, 75% ± 5%RH)

Distillate + Strain-Specific Terpenes

Parameters
Specification
Formulation
400-440/800-880 mg THC distillate + Chemovar terpene concentration
Appearance
Yellow-gold viscous liquid, solid at room temperature
Packaging
1ml SS316 or All-Ceramic 10-Thread cartridge
0.5ml SS316 or All-Ceramic 10-Thread cartridge
Storage
Tightly closed, protected from light, 15 - 25° C
Shelf Life
12 months
Extraction
Cryo-ethanol extraction
Low temperature Decarboxylation to preserve terpenes
Origin
South Africa
Stability Status
Conducted according to ICH stability guidelines
Long term studies up to: 12 months (25°C±2°C, 60% ± 5%RH)
Accelerated studies up to: 6 months (40°C±2°C, 75% ± 5%RH)

Distillate + Botanical Terpenes

Parameters
Specification
Formulation
400-440/800-880mg THC distillate + Botanical terpene concentration
Appearance
Yellow-gold viscous liquid, solid at room temperature
Packaging
1ml SS316 or All-Ceramic 10-Thread cartridge
0.5ml SS316 or All-Ceramic 10-Thread cartridge
Storage
Tightly closed, protected from light, 15 - 25° C
Shelf Life
12 months
Extraction
Cryo-ethanol extraction
Low temperature Decarboxylation to preserve terpenes
Origin
South Africa
Stability Status
Conducted according to ICH stability guidelines
Long term studies up to: 12 months (25°C±2°C, 60% ± 5%RH)
Accelerated studies up to: 6 months (40°C±2°C, 75% ± 5%RH)

Live Rosin Strain Specific

Parameters
Specification
Formulation
400/800mg THC Live Rosin concentration
Appearance
Yellow-gold viscous liquid, solid at room temperature
Packaging
1ml All-Ceramic 510-Thread Cartridge
0.5ml All-Ceramic 510-Thread Cartridge
Storage
Tightly closed, protected from light, 15 - 25° C
Shelf Life
12 months
Extraction
EP-grade water and low temperature pressing, fresh frozen cannabis flower
Origin
South Africa
Stability Status
Conducted according to ICH stability guidelines
Long term studies up to: 12 months (25°C±2°C, 60% ± 5%RH)
Accelerated studies up to: 6 months (40°C±2°C, 75% ± 5%RH)

Live Resin Strain Specific

Parameters
Specification
Formulation
400/800mg THC Live Resin concentration
Appearance
Yellow-gold viscous liquid, solid at room temperature
Packaging
1ml All-Ceramic 510-Thread Cartridge
0.5ml All-Ceramic 510-Thread Cartridge
Storage
Tightly closed, protected from light, 15 - 25° C
Shelf Life
12 months
Extraction
Low temperature hydrocarbon, fresh frozen cannabis flower
Origin
South Africa
Stability Status
Conducted according to ICH stability guidelines
Long term studies up to: 12 months (25°C±2°C, 60% ± 5%RH)
Accelerated studies up to: 6 months (40°C±2°C, 75% ± 5%RH)

Full-Spectrum Decarboxylated Crude Oil

Parameters
Specification
Formulation
>70% THC <2% CBD
Appearance
Dark Amber liquid, solid at room temperature
Packaging
Insert Argon purged. Amber glass bottle 50ml, 500ml and 2.5L. Glass Type III Polypropylene (PE) Cap
Storage
Tightly closed, protected from light, 15 - 25° C
Shelf Life
24-months (stability ongoing)
Extraction
Cryo-ethanol extraction
Low temperature Decarboxylation to preserve terpenes
Origin
South Africa
Stability Status
Conducted according to ICH stability guidelines
Long term studies up to: 24 months (25°C±2°C, 60% ± 5%RH)
Accelerated studies up to: 6 months (40°C±2°C, 75% ± 5%RH)
Strains
Black Cherry Punch (Hybrid-Indica), Blueberry Kush (Indica), Critical Kush (Indica), Creamy Kees (Hybrid-Indica), Royal Go- rilla (Hybrid-Sativa), Karel’s Haze (Hybrid-Sativa), Bafokeng Choice-White Lemon (Hybrid-Sativa), UK Cheese (Sativa), Original Blitz (Indica) | *More strains on request

Full-Spectrum Distillate

Parameters
Specification
Formulation
>88% THC <2% CBD
Appearance
Clear yellow-gold viscous liquid, solid at room temperature
Packaging
Insert Argon purged. Amber glass bottle 50ml, 500ml and 2.5L. Glass Type III Polypropylene (PE) Cap
Storage
Tightly closed, protected from light, 15 - 25° C
Shelf Life
24-months (stability ongoing)
Extraction
Cryo-ethanol extraction
Low temperature Decarboxylation to preserve terpenes
Origin
South Africa
Stability Status
Conducted according to ICH stability guidelines
Long term studies up to: 24 months (25°C±2°C, 60% ± 5%RH)
Accelerated studies up to: 6 months (40°C±2°C, 75% ± 5%RH)
Strains
Black Cherry Punch (Hybrid-Indica), Blueberry Kush (Indica), Critical Kush (Indica), Creamy Kees (Hybrid-Indica), Royal Go- rilla (Hybrid-Sativa), Karel’s Haze (Hybrid-Sativa), Bafokeng Choice-White Lemon (Hybrid-Sativa), UK Cheese (Sativa), Original Blitz (Indica)| More strains on request

Live Rosin

Parameters
Specification
Formulation
>70% THC <2% CBD
Appearance
Viscous semi-solid at room temperature, yellow-gold
Packaging
Insert Argon purged. Amber glass bottle 50ml, 500ml and 2.5L. Glass Type III Polypropylene (PE) Cap
Storage
Tightly closed, protected from light, 15 - 25° C
Shelf Life
24-months (stability ongoing)
Extraction
Low temperature EP-grade water, fresh frozen cannabis
Origin
South Africa
Stability Status
Conducted according to ICH stability guidelines
Long term studies up to: 24 months (25°C±2°C, 60% ± 5%RH)
Accelerated studies up to: 6 months (40°C±2°C, 75% ± 5%RH)
Strains
Available on request

Live Resin

Parameters
Specification
Formulation
> 85% THC <2% THC
Appearance
Yellow-gold, semi-solid at room temperature
Packaging
Insert Argon purged. Amber glass bottle 50ml, 500ml and 2.5L. Glass Type III Polypropylene (PE) Cap
Storage
Tightly closed, protected from light, 15 - 25° C
Shelf Life
24-months (stability ongoing)
Extraction
Low temperature hydrocarbon, fresh frozen cannabis flower
Origin
South Africa
Stability Status
Conducted according to ICH stability guidelines
Long term studies up to: 24 months (25°C±2°C, 60% ± 5%RH)
Accelerated studies up to: 6 months (40°C±2°C, 75% ± 5%RH)
Strains
Available on request

D9-THC API (97+%) Natural

Parameters
Specification
Formulation
> 95% THC, minors according to DAC monograph
Product Type
Dronabinol API
Appearance
Clear viscous liquid, solid at room temperature
Packaging
Insert Argon purged. Amber glass bottle 50ml, 500ml and 2.5L. Glass Type III Polypropylene (PE) Cap
Storage
Tightly closed, protected from light, 15 - 25° C
Shelf Life
12-months
Extraction
Solvent extraction
Origin
South Africa
Stability Status
Conducted according to ICH stability guidelines
Long term studies up to: 12 months (25°C±2°C, 60% ± 5%RH)
Accelerated studies up to: 6 months (40°C±2°C, 75% ± 5%RH)

Sativa Strains*

Karels Haze

THC: 30%

Mandarin Cookies

THC: 27%

Original Blitz

THC: 27%

Jungle Pie

THC: 26%

* More available on request

CBD Dominant

100mg/ml CBD <4mg/ml THC – 30ml
Parameters
Specification
Formulation
Full spectrum CBD extract with pharma grade MCT oil
Product Type
MCT oral formulation
Appearance
Clear to amber liquid at room temperature
Packaging
30ml amber dropper bottle with a child-resistant lid and syringe
Storage
Tightly closed, protected from light, 15 - 25° C
Shelf Life
12-months
Extraction
Cryo-ethanol extraction
Origin
South Africa
Stability Status
Conducted according to ICH stability guidelines
Long term studies up to: 24 months (25°C±2°C, 60% ± 5%RH)
Accelerated studies up to: 6 months (40°C±2°C, 75% ± 5%RH)

CBD Dominant

200mg/ml CBD <4mg/ml THC – 30ml
Parameters
Specification
Formulation
Full spectrum CBD extract with pharma grade MCT oil
Product Type
MCT oral formulation
Appearance
Clear to amber liquid at room temperature
Packaging
30ml amber dropper bottle with a child-resistant lid and syringe
Storage
Tightly closed, protected from light, 15 - 25° C
Shelf Life
12-months
Extraction
Cryo-ethanol extraction
Origin
South Africa
Stability Status
Conducted according to ICH stability guidelines
Long term studies up to: 24 months (25°C±2°C, 60% ± 5%RH)
Accelerated studies up to: 6 months (40°C±2°C, 75% ± 5%RH)

CBD Dominant

200mg/ml CBD <ND THC – 30ml

Parameters
Specification
Formulation
CBD isolate with pharma grade MCT oil
Product Type
MCT oral formulation
Appearance
Clear to amber liquid at room temperature
Packaging
30ml amber bottle with glass pipette dropper
Storage
Tightly closed, protected from light, 15 - 25° C
Shelf Life
12-months
Extraction
Cryo-ethanol extraction
Origin
South Africa
Stability Status
Conducted according to ICH stability guidelines
Long term studies up to: 24 months (25°C±2°C, 60% ± 5%RH)
Accelerated studies up to: 6 months (40°C±2°C, 75% ± 5%RH)

Balanced

15mg/ml CBD – 15mg/ml THC – 30ml
Parameters
Specification
Formulation
Full spectrum THC and CBD extract with pharma grade MCT oil
Product Type
Oral MCT formulation
Appearance
Clear to amber liquid at room temperature
Packaging
30ml amber bottle with child-resistant lid and 1ml syringe
Storage
Tightly closed, protected from light, 15 - 25° C
Shelf Life
12-months
Extraction
Cryo-ethanol extraction
Origin
South Africa
Stability Status
Conducted according to ICH stability guidelines
Long term studies up to: 24 months (25°C±2°C, 60% ± 5%RH)
Accelerated studies up to: 6 months (40°C±2°C, 75% ± 5%RH)

Balanced

25mg/ml CBD – 25mg/ml THC – 30ml

Parameters
Specification
Formulation
Full spectrum THC and CBD extract with pharma grade MCT oil
Product Type
Oral MCT formulation
Appearance
Clear to amber liquid at room temperature
Packaging
30ml amber bottle with child-resistant lid and 1ml syringe
Storage
Tightly closed, protected from light, 15 - 25° C
Shelf Life
12-months
Extraction
Cryo-ethanol extraction
Origin
South Africa
Stability Status
Conducted according to ICH stability guidelines
Long term studies up to: 24 months (25°C±2°C, 60% ± 5%RH)
Accelerated studies up to: 6 months (40°C±2°C, 75% ± 5%RH)

THC Dominant

<1mg/ml CBD -15mg/ml THC – 50ml

Parameters
Specification
Formulation
Full spectrum THC extract with pharma grade MCT oil
Product Type
Oral MCT formulation
Appearance
Clear viscous liquid, solid a room temperature
Packaging
50ml amber bottle with child-resistant lid and 1ml syringe
Storage
Tightly closed, protected from light, 15 - 25° C
Shelf Life
12-months
Extraction
Cryo-ethanol extraction
Origin
South Africa
Stability Status
Conducted according to ICH stability guidelines
Long term studies up to: 24 months (25°C±2°C, 60% ± 5%RH)
Accelerated studies up to: 6 months (40°C±2°C, 75% ± 5%RH)

THC Dominant

<1mg/ml CBD – 25mg/ml THC – 30ml
Parameters
Specification
Formulation
> 95% THC, minors according to DAC monograph
Product Type
DAC Dronabinol in oily base, MCT-oil formulated according to NRF 22.8
Appearance
Clear viscous liquid, solid a room temperature
Packaging
Insert Argon purged. Amber glass bottle 50ml, 500ml and 2.5L. Glass Type III Polypropylene (PE) Cap
Storage
Tightly closed, protected from light, 15 - 25° C
Shelf Life
12-months
Extraction
Cryo-ethanol extraction
Chromatography purification
Origin
South Africa
Stability Status
Conducted according to ICH stability guidelines
Long term studies up to: 24 months (25°C±2°C, 60% ± 5%RH)
Accelerated studies up to: 6 months (40°C±2°C, 75% ± 5%RH)

Dronabinol Solution NRF 22.8 25mg/ml

Parameters
Specification
Product Type
DAC Dronabinol in oily base, MCT-Oil Formulated according to NRF 22.8
Formulation
25mg/ml DAC Dronabinol
Appearance
Clear, almost colourless to slightly yellowish viscous solution
Packaging
50ml, 200ml or 500ml amber glass jar Type III, white CR screw cap, magisterial preparation format with TE cap (PP), 2 x THC strip, reaction tube, sterile pipett
Storage
Tightly closed, protected from light, 15 - 25° C
Shelf Life
Ongoing - expected 12 months
Extraction
Solvent extraction and formulation
Origin
South Africa
Stability Status
Conducted according to ICH stability guidelines
Long term studies up to: 24 months (25°C±2°C, 60% ± 5%RH)
Accelerated studies up to: 6 months (40°C±2°C, 75% ± 5%RH)

Indica Strains*

Critical Kush

THC: 25%

Black Cherry Punch

THC: 25%

Blueberry Kush

THC: 24%

Gooseberry Pie

THC: 22%

Chemdog x UK Cheese

THC: 21%

Bubba OG

THC: 20%

Blueberry Muffin

THC: 20%

* More available on request

Hybrid Strains*

Sour OG Cheese

THC: 27%

Royal Gorilla

THC: 25%

White Lemon

THC: 24%

Blunicorn

THC: 20%

Creamy Kees

THC: 20%

UK Cheese

THC: 20%

Orange Velvet Underground

THC: 20%

* More available on request