What exactly are the essential oils that we are extracting from the cannabis plant, and what are their properties?
Here is a nifty list that I scored off ICMag, posted by Spurr, who used http://cannabis-med.org/data/pdf/2001-03-04-7.pdf as his information source:
?-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Boiling point: 157*C / 314.6 degree Fahrenheit Properties: Euphoriant, Analgesic, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant, Antiemetic
cannabidiol (CBD) Boiling point: 160-180*C / 320-356 degree Fahrenheit Properties: Anxiolytic, Analgesic, Antipsychotic, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant, Antispasmodic
Cannabinol (CBN) Boiling point: 185*C / 365 degree Fahrenheit Properties: Oxidation, breakdown, product, Sedative, Antibiotic
cannabichromene (CBC) Boiling point: 220*C / 428 degree Fahrenheit Properties: Antiinflammatory, Antibiotic, Antifungal
cannabigerol (CBG) Boiling point: MP52 Properties: Antiinflammatory, Antibiotic, Antifungal
?-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (?-8-THC) Boiling point: 175-178*C / 347-352.4 degree Fahrenheit Properties: Resembles ?-9-THC, Less psychoactive, More stable Antiemetic
tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) Boiling point: < 220*C / <428 degree Fahrenheit Properties: Analgesic, Euphoriant
Terpenoid essential oils, their boiling points, and properties
ß-myrcene Boiling point: 166-168*C / 330.8-334.4 degree Fahrenheit Properties: Analgesic. Antiinflammatory, Antibiotic, Antimutagenic
ß-caryophyllene Boiling point: 119*C / 246.2 degree Fahrenheit Properties: Antiinflammatory, Cytoprotective (gastric mucosa), Antimalarial
d-limonene Boiling point: 177*C / 350.6 degree Fahrenheit Properties: Cannabinoid agonist?, Immune potentiator, Antidepressant, Antimutagenic
linalool Boiling point: 198*C / 388.4 degree Fahrenheit Properties: Sedative, Antidepressant, Anxiolytic, Immune potentiator
pulegone Boiling point: 224*C / 435.2 degree Fahrenheit Properties: Memory booster?, AChE inhibitor, Sedative, Antipyretic
1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) Boiling point: 176*C / 348.8 degree Fahrenheit Properties: AChE inhibitor, Increases cerebral, blood flow, Stimulant, Antibiotic, Antiviral, Antiinflammatory, Antinociceptive
a-pinene Boiling point: 156*C / 312.8 degree Fahrenheit Properties: Antiinflammatory, Bronchodilator, Stimulant, Antibiotic, Antineoplastic, AChE inhibitor
a-terpineol Boiling point: 217-218*C / 422.6-424.4 degree Fahrenheit Properties: Sedative, Antibiotic, AChE inhibitor, Antioxidant, Antimalarial
terpineol-4-ol Boiling point: 209*C / 408.2 degree Fahrenheit Properties: AChE inhibitor. Antibiotic
p-cymene Boiling point: 177*C / 350.6 degree Fahrenheit Properties: Antibiotic, Anticandidal, AChE inhibitor
Flavonoid and phytosterol components, their boiling points, and properties
apigenin Boiling point: 178*C / 352.4 degree Fahrenheit Properties: Anxiolytic, Antiinflammatory, Estrogenic
quercetin Boiling point: 250*C / 482 degree Fahrenheit Properties: Antioxidant, Antimutagenic, Antiviral, Antineoplastic
cannflavin A Boiling point: 182*C / 359.6 degree Fahrenheit Properties: COX inhibitor, LO inhibitor
ß-sitosterol Boiling point: 134*C / 273.2 degree Fahrenheit Properties: Antiinflammatory, 5-a-reductase, inhibitor
Posted by Gregory Karl Davis on May 16, 2013 at 7:15 AM
Cannabis and Cannabis Extracts More than the Sum of their Parts has been a study in the life here, too. The work here has been to bring forward a ‘mix’ based upon this study. Of interest here, is a now published claim to a patent on the ‘cannabis cocktail’ called for in this 2001 study. This ministry is extremely interested in getting a fortified cannabis extract formula for patients that require SAFE ACCESS and measured doses. This study is a work in progress and of late we have been experimenting with adding CBD (cannabidiol) as DixieX.com ‘Scripts’ and essential oil with seeming success. Holy shit is intriguing, too. GW… it seems you’ve reported ‘curing or killing’ a colon cancer with suppositories with this brew? https://www.facebook.com/notes/gregory-karl-davis/naturally-derived-dronabinol-cannabis-extract-improved-by-cbds-cannabidiol-addit/492652777422023
Posted by Skunk Pharm Research,LLC on May 18, 2013 at 7:14 AM
Yes, two colon cancer patients reported success and we currently have a rectal cancer patient who is reporting pain relief, improved elimination, as well as blood markers returning to normal, but a little early to count chickens. He has been on a gram a day of our HS Oil, and 300 Mg suppositories for around 60 days.
He is stoked and plans to share his story, if successful.
Posted by Looking for info on making RSO - Page 2 on March 7, 2013 at 3:51 AM
[...] you for your help. Here is a list of various boiling points , they are from Graywolfs site . http://skunkpharmresearch.com/cannabinoid-info/ Cannabinoid and Terpene Info Posted by Skunk Pharm Research,LLC. What exactly are the essential [...]
Posted by Goude Witty Comment on March 24, 2013 at 11:57 PM
Salutations my friends…you have made my hobby expand into perfumes and other absolutes…along the travels within binary land I came across this wonderful powerpoint presentation describing the process and end results of various extraction techniques. I might create a similar model for our branch of artistic perfumery….nom nom nom…happy days!!! http://www.slideshare.net/fullscreen/goudewittycomment/allie-yusra-volatileoils/1
Posted by Skunk Pharm Research,LLC on March 27, 2013 at 5:03 AM
Thanks for sharing bro! Good link!
Posted by Goude Witty Comment on April 15, 2013 at 10:03 PM
The legal environment and challenges facing the community of cannabis users today, allows the ability for exploring the ability to extract essential oils from the sacred plant. There are several methods for extraction, with proponents for and against these extraction techniques. Intent of this paper is not to validate or argue which method is “best” of all available techniques. What follows is an abstract of the book, “Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin” authored by Steffen Arctander in 1960. Creating the book, he extracted numerous essential oils from mother nature, earning him a position of a pioneer in perfume sciences during the 20th century.
The book is available for purchase, and is highly recommended to anyone pursuing the enjoyment of creating natural essential-oils. The price of the book precludes easy access to treasure trove of knowledge within the pages. That is what this article will draw attention to for the reader, basic information about essential oils and the creation of a safe, useable product for the basic consumer.
Creating errl, full-melt, QWET, or even CO2 budder is both art and a science – and art cannot be taught. Arctander, in creating the book, felt the science of perfumery and flavor creation should not be hidden by the select few. Standing on the shoulders of giants only occurs because of the work done by others before our selves. This is why I am writing this paper, to further expand the science behind creating cannabis essential oils.
Starting with definitions of various extracts in alphabetical order by Arctander in the Perfume and Flavor book, and please remember these are perfume definitions that work very well in creating essential oils:
Absolute – A prepared material for perfumes. Highly concentrated and entirely alcohol-soluble, these are generally liquid in form. Absolutes are alcohol-extractions of concretes or other hydrocarbon extractions, e.g. butane, hexane, propane; or from fat-extracts of plant material. Waxes, terpenes, sesquiterpenes and most of the odorless materials will be eliminated from the concrete in creating the absolute. Gentle heat or room temperature evaporates the ETOH (alcohol) used creating the absolute. The mixed alcoholic extract is then chilled for a period of time, dependent upon plant material and species that is used. Waxes, sesquiterpenes, etc. precipitate out of solution in the cold with a subsequent filtration, or centrifuging of the alcoholic absolute. Evaporation of the alcohol requires a gentle vacuum towards the end of the distillation to fully purge the final product. Most absolutes (not all – depending upon a variety of environment factors) will contain trace amounts of ethanol ( around 2% or less). If the alcohol is denatured with a non-volatile or high-boiling point material, this compound will be present in the absolute in significant amounts, since the extraction of the absolute requires many times the quantity of alcohol.
Absolutes in exceptional cases are solid or semi-solid (e.g. sage clary absolute, beeswax absolute, or cannabis). Occasionally the alcohol-soluble fraction of a resinoid is called an absolute. The final product is not identical to the so-called alcohol-resinoid, also commercially known as resin absolute. A resin absolute is a preparation by direct alcohol extraction of the natural material (gum resin, oleo resin, etc.) – cannabis alchemy calls these “quick-wash” ISO or ethanol extracts.
If a natural raw material is first extracted with petroleum ether to produce a resinoid and the resinoid in turn is extracted with alcohol, this process will yield a highly refined and pale colored “absolute”. Petroleum ether extracts of natural gum resins, oleo resins, etc, are often very light-colored resinoids, very suitable for further processing to absolutes of attractive appearance and odor.
Butaflor – A registered name (P. Robertet & Cie.) given to a series of highly concentrated perfume materials produced by butane and subnormal temperatures. Solvent recovery by evaporation at room temperature (boiling point of butane is -0.50C.). Low temperature for extraction and the selective solvent result in a pale-colored, almost wax free and terpeneless product. The method is particularly useful and advantageous when applied to very delicate or heat-sensitive botanical materials, e.g. lilac flowers, lily of the valley, orange flowers, jasmine, roses, and cannabis. It should be noted that not all butaflors are completely alcohol soluble.
Absolute from Chassis – When flowers are removed in the daily batches from the grease trays (chassis), some fat adheres to these flowers. The fat contains botanical oils. Extraction with a hydrocarbon type of solvent isolates the botanical oil-fat rendering a “concrete de chassis” from which a absolute from chassis is in turn produced from alcohol extraction, chilling, filtration, and evaporation.
Absolute from distillation of water – During the steam or water distillation process, distillation waters contain significant amounts of dissolved or dispersed odorous matter which will not readily separate. Such distillations are often extracted with petroleum ether or benzene. After solvent recovery the residual “distillation water concrete” is extracted with alcohol, or it may be used as it comes from the first extraction. Lavender water-absolute, rose water-absolute, etc. are made this way. These absolutes are practically terpeneless and consist mainly of water-soluble components of the essential oil in the plant material. In certain cases, these are the “missing link” between absolutes and essential oils from the same plant material. Water absolutes present highly interesting scent notes which are often missing or wanted in essential oils or perfume bases.
Concrete – A concrete is a prepared perfumery material. Concretes are extracted from non-resinous or low resinous natural raw materials in a method of preparation quite similar to that of resinoids. The natural raw materials from which concretes are prepared from are almost exclusively of vegetable origin, e.g. bark, flower, herb, leaf, roots, etc. Concretes are extracted from previously live tissue, while resinoids are made from plant exudation (not tissue).
Concretes are thus representative of the natural raw material in the sense that they contain all the hydrocarbon-soluble matter, while water and water-extractive matter is left out. Plant tissue, fibers, cellulose, etc. are eliminated as well. The resulting concrete is soluble only to a certain degree in oils and other liquid materials.
Concretes are usually solid, waxy, non-crystalline masses which, on standing, may deposit crystals of almost pure constituents from the extract. Concretes contain higher fatty-acids, frequently lauric and myristic acid. Furthermore, they contain large amounts of alcohol-soluble matter known as absolute.
The amount of absolute in a concrete ranges from less than 20% (which is rare) up to 80% (also rare). In the latter case, the concrete is often liquid, e.g. concrete of Ylang Ylang. A content of 50% of absolute is most common in flower concretes. Jasmine concrete is a typical and well-known concrete.
Concrete from Chassis – An extraction product from the exhaust flowers on the “chassis” . The defleuraged flowers are extracted with a hydrocarbon solvent to yield the concrete from chassis after recovery of the solvent. Jasmine Chassis is a well-known example.
Extract – Extracts are prepared materials. The term extract is used for perfume materials, flavor materials, pharmaceutical products, and many other commercial products. Generally speaking, the term extract refers to concentrated products, obtained by treating a natural material with a solvent. The solution of active ingredients from the natural raw material is subsequently concentrated with evaporation of the solvent, either partially or fully. True extracts do not contain significant amounts of solvent.
Absolutes, Concretes, and Extraits (dissolved extracts), Oleo resins (prepared), Resinoids, Tinctures (dissolved extracts) are all true extracts. They should be considered as solutions of volatile oils, obtained by absorption on the non-volatile solvent.
In flavor terms, the word Extract is used even more indiscriminately. Often applied to dilutions or emulsions of flavor materials in vegetable oils, tasteless solvents (carbon dioxide), or water. True flavor extracts are concentrated materials, liquid, semi-liquid, or solid. They are obtained from natural raw materials by treatment with solvents, and with particular attention to their application in food or beverages. They are generally prepared in the same was as perfumery or pharmaceutical extracts.
A solvent-free alcoholic extract of a resinous raw material is often called a Resin Absolute. It is a further development of the tincture or the infusion which is concentrated.
Resinoid – A resinoid is a perfumery material prepared from natural, resinous substances by extraction with a hydrocarbon type of solvent. True resinoids contain all the hydrocarbon-soluble matter from the natural starting material, including the resins, but they contain no solvent.
The most frequently used solvents are: petroleum ether, benzene, gasoline, butane (butaflor), or in certain cases, acetone, methylene dichloride, trichloro ethylene and other solvents which are not exactly hydrocarbons. Non-volatile solvents are occasionally used.
In contradiction to Concretes, resinoids are generally produced from “dead” (non-cellular) organic material, while the concretes are derived from previously “live” (cellular) tissue, etc. Resinous materials are, e.g. balsams, gum-resins, natural resins, oleo-gum-resins, etc.
Resinoids can be viscous liquids, semi-solid, or solid, but usually homogeneous masses of non-crystalline (amorphous) character. Their main constituents are rosin acids, rosin acid anhydrides, sesquiterpenes, essential oils, plant colors, waxes, and other hydrocarbon-soluble matter.
Sesquiterpeneless Oils – These oils are also called terpene- and sesquiterpeneless oils. Certain essential oils contain little or no monoterpenes, but significant amount of sesquiterpenes, e.g. clove oils, vetiver oils etc. Chemically, monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes are part of a group known as terpenoid compounds. In Nature, these materials are found almost entirely in the plant kingdom. Sesquiterpenes are important for several reasons, although not quite the same as monoterpenes:
1) Improve solubility in the oil in diluted alcohol or in flavor solvents;
2) To improve perfume and flavor of the essential oil;
3) To lift overall fragrance or flavor of the oil since the sesquiterpenes tend to depress the odor or flavor through the fixative effect of these boiling components.
Point 1) is mutual for mono and sesquiterpenes.
Point 2) and 3) deal with sesquiterpenes in particular. Very stable, they present less trouble than monoterpenes. Generally speaking, the sesquiterpenes are more of a nuisance in flavors than in perfumes. Sesquiterpenes have, as a rule, a rather poor flavor, and most are distinctly bitter.
Happy day to all!!!
Posted by Skunk Pharm Research,LLC on April 16, 2013 at 6:05 AM
Thanks for sharing SMG!
Two other books that I’ve found useful, are The Essential Oils, Vol 1, History, Origin in Plants, Production, Analysis, by Ernest Guenther, and The Chemistry of Essential Oils Made Simple, by Stewart.
I too found the study of plant terpenes facinating, especially how they are built from Isoprene units and how the monoterpenes (2 isoprene units) are primarily alcohols, ethers, aldyhides, esters, ketones, and carboxylic acids, with high vapor pressure. So high, that they are casting off molecules at ambient temperatures, which is why they stink up a room.
Posted by spurr on January 20, 2013 at 12:45 PM
Hey buddy. Here’s where the person from ICmag sourced that info, and, IIRC, that person from ICmag was me
I wanted to thank you for noting you’re not the source of those data. All over the Internet (e.g., web sites and discussion forums) you will find that same list, and, nearly with certainty the authors don’t cite where they found those data. Thank you for being a true scholar.
McPartland, J.M. & Russo, E.B. (2006). Cannabis and Cannabis Extracts:
Greater Than the Sum of Their Parts?. Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics,1, 103–132.
(full text) http://cannabis-med.org/data/pdf/2001-03-04-7.pdf
Spurr
Posted by spurr on January 20, 2013 at 12:47 PM
Darn typo! That paper was published in 2001, not 2006:
McPartland, J.M. & Russo, E.B. (2001). Cannabis and Cannabis Extracts:
Greater Than the Sum of Their Parts?. Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics,1, 103–132.
Spurr
Posted by Skunk Pharm Research,LLC on January 21, 2013 at 6:07 AM
So noted! My keypad can’t spell either bro!
GW
Posted by Skunk Pharm Research,LLC on January 21, 2013 at 6:06 AM
Hello brother Spurr, thanks for the heads up! It is good to see your smiling face again, and hope you continue to do so and contribute!
I changed that entry to reflect your input and source material. You have been one of my best resources on the subject and it is good to see you cruising through!
Thanks also for the timely original source material, which I have long lost/misfiled/etc. It and its own reference material promise many hours of productive research on the subject, which will be one of our focuses this year. We plan to extend our research on combining plant material during extraction, to enchance levels of certain terpenes, to review their effects.
GW
Posted by spurr on January 22, 2013 at 1:37 PM
Hey buddy,
Great, I look forward to the results! I have a couple more great papers published post-2001 on this same topic – in the form of an academic back and fourth between a few scholars ‘arguing’ over this very topic. Fun stuff!
Spurr
Posted by spurr on January 22, 2013 at 1:50 PM
. . . I’ll post those studies shortly (well, maybe tomorrow, super busy today).
Spurr
Posted by Skunk Pharm Research,LLC on January 24, 2013 at 6:35 AM
Ohmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!1
GW
Posted by Skunk Pharm Research,LLC on January 24, 2013 at 6:35 AM
Looking forward to them!
Posted by scubadoo on January 11, 2013 at 12:04 PM
Fortunately, my wife’s been on it now for over 4 months & has consumed over 100 grams over that period so the disconbobulation is not an issue for us. I have picked up 2 bottles of 151 proof Bacardi rum which is 75% alcohol. Can i make oil with this using the Rick Simpson method as i don’t have a lab to work out of? Please advise!
Scubadoo
Posted by Skunk Pharm Research,LLC on January 12, 2013 at 4:45 AM
It will work, but not as well, as the water will pick up no actives and chlorophyll. The oil will be less potent, because of the dilution, but you can take always take more of it.
The limiting factor may be the chlorophyll pickup, if our wife’s lower track is sensitive to it. It causes only gastric distress, so it is worth a try. If it does cause her gastric distress, you can try something else.
Can you get 99% Iso, and then do a wash with 151 proof to purge off the residuals?
Posted by scubadoo on January 10, 2013 at 1:23 PM
I’m trying to get some blueberry as that seems to be a favorite from the cancer community who have been using oil for their ailments. I have spoken to a lot of people who are in the know with oils for medicine & they claim that to reverse a cancer, not ease pain or simply control nausea, the more potent the oil the better. That’s why Rick Simpson ‘s favorite strain is white widow as it is very potent. The high THC probably helps with the sleep/rest part of the healing process as Indicas are better for relaxing a person than sativas. Everyone seems to have a different opinion on this subject & even on line there are conflicting stories/reports. That’s why it’s great to have people like yourselves experimenting & sharing the results with people like us who are limited with resources & chemistry knowledge.
Will keep in touch!
Scubadoo
Posted by Skunk Pharm Research,LLC on January 11, 2013 at 7:25 AM
And of course all that scientific fact is, is a theory that explains the phenomenum, which the scientific community happens to salute at that time. Our perception of scientific fact changes as our science matures.
We’ve tried blueberry and still use white widow. We currently prefer Cannatonic and Hawaiian Bubble Gift for high dosage patients, because their THC/CBD balance allows higher initial dosages without discobobulation.
Posted by scubadoo on January 9, 2013 at 3:00 PM
Problem is i’m in canada so the border issue arises! Thanks anyway!
Posted by Skunk Pharm Research,LLC on January 10, 2013 at 7:33 AM
Oooops, that is a problem. Can you get high CBD strains where you are at.
Posted by scubadoo on January 8, 2013 at 2:01 PM
Hi there! It’s been a while since i last communicated with you. My wife’s stage 4 lung cancer has returned as the tumours have grown about 20%. 2 months ago the tumours had begun to shrink & now they’re growing. The bud i used lately to make the oil was the opium strain & more recent i used white shark strain. She is ingesting over a gram a day but not making progress. I’m wondering if these strains are not potent enough? The bud comes from an indoor grow op. When i try to get the thc content of the strains online, the numbers vary from site to site. Also is the thc content more important than the cannabinoids content in the strain? I will try to find a strain with about 20% THC. The white shark online shows up as 14% THC which is probably not potent enough to reverse the stage 4 cancer. What instrument is used to measure THC content & where can i get one?
Scubadoo
Posted by Skunk Pharm Research,LLC on January 9, 2013 at 9:44 AM
I suggest a high CBD strain, not high THC. We can provide you with a clone of Hawaiian Bubble Gift, and what high CBD oil that we have on hand. That is unfortunately only about 10 grams at the moment, but you are welcome to it and if you can find some more high CBD material, we will extract and formulate it for you.
GW