Analysis of cannabinoids in hair samples and its correlation with symptoms of anxiety, depression and psychosis

Abstract

Cannabis sativa contains about 85 components, called cannabinoids, the main being the ”9 - tetrahydrocannabinol (”9 - THC), which produces anxiogenic effects and psychotic-like effects and cannabidiol (CBD), which appears to have antipsychotic properties, anxiolytic and neuroprotective activity in humans. Due to the effects that these bidirectional cannabinoids present in humans, the study of these compounds compared with the incidence of psychiatric disorders has been extensively studied. However, few studies have been conducted to correlate the presence of different levels of these cannabinoids in hair samples with incidence of psychiatric symptoms. Since the use of hair allows the determination of a picture cumulative exposure to various types of substances, will be developed a methodo to detect levels of ”9 - THC and CBD in hair samples using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the ratio between these levels will be used to relate the pattern of consumption of cannabis with symptoms of anxiety, depression and psychosis. The method will be developed in accordance with the trend in analytical chemistry for simplification and miniaturization of sample preparation, minimal use of solvents and especially smaller amount of sample. This is of fundamental importance to forensic toxicology, considering that many times, the availability of biological samples for analyzes is reduced. The purpose of this project is to use a new device for solid phase extraction (tips - DPX) for determination of cannabinoids and cocaine in hair samples of volunteers from the Center for Psycho Social Alcohol and Drug Ribeirão Preto (SP), and correlate the results of the incidence of psychiatric symptoms. (AU)