Potency Analysis

Cannabinoid and Terpenoid Profiles Enable Targeted Cannabis Medicine

can·na·bis [kanuh-bis]

Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that produces more than 400 compounds that help protect the plant from environmental hazards, such as bacterial infections and damage from ultraviolet rays. Some of these compounds, administered alone or in various combinations, are now used to treat specific medical conditions in patients.

These compounds fit into many categories, including two that stand out for their observed medicinal effects: cannabinoids and terpenoids.

Cannabis Potency

Cannabis potency can vary widely among plant samples based on genetics (plant strain) and growing conditions such as lighting intensity and intervals, water and nutrient uptake, and stressors like wind, rain, heat, and cold. For instance, if lighting is not uniformly distributed, samples obtained from the top of a plant will differ in potency from samples taken near the base.

The ratios of the compounds, including cannabinoids and terpenoids, also vary widely based on its genetic and environmental factors, which makes certain cannabis products better for treating specific medical conditions than other products. Our comprehensive tests and reports make it easier for patients, caregivers, and medical professionals to map cannabis products to each individual’s medication requirements to obtain the desired therapeutic outcome.

Cannabinoids are expressed in percentage of total weight: milligrams of the cannabinoid divided by milligrams of the sample. This information is critical for enabling patients to gauge dosage levels in edibles and other products that can vary in weight.

Cannabinoids and Terpenoids

Using Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) and gas chromatography with a mass spec detector (GC_MS) we are able to separate and quantify the following lists of cannabinoids and terpenoids, respectively present in cannabis and cannabis-based products.

CannabinoidAbbreviationPotential Medicinal Value
CannabichromeneCBCAnalgesic
Antibacterial
Antimicrobial
Antidepressant
Antifungal
Anti-inflammatory
Antiproliferative
Bone growth stimulant
Sleep aid
Vaso-relaxant
CannabidiolCBDAllograft stimulant
Analgesic
Antibacterial
Anticonvulsive
Antidepressant
Anti-diabetic
Anti-emetic
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-ischemic
Anti-prokinetic
Antiproliferative
Antipsoriatic
Anti-psychotic
Anti-spasmodic
Anxiolytic
Bone growth stimulant
Immunosuppressive
Neuroprotective
Sleep aid
Cannabidiolic acidCBDAnti-inflammatory
Antiproliferative
Anti-prokinetic
CannabidivarinCBDVAnti-convulsive
Bone growth stimulant
CannabigerolCBGAnalgesic
Antibacterial
Antidepressant
Antifungal
Anti-inflammatory
Antiproliferative
Bone growth stimulant
Cannabigerolic acidCBGAAnalgesic
Anti-inflammatory
CannabinolCBNAnalgesic
Antibacterial
Anticonvulsive
Anti-inflammatory
Antioxidant
Antispasmodic
Psychoactive (mild)
Sleep aid
Cannabinolic acidCBNAAnti-inflammatory
Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinolΔ8THCAntidepressant
Antispasmodic
Anxiolytic
Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinolΔ9THCAnalgesic
Antibacterial
Antiproliferative
Anti-inflammatory
Antioxidant
Antispasmodic
Appetite stimulant
Bronchodilator
Neuroprotective
Psychoactive
Sleep apnea easer
Tetrahydrocannabinolic acidTHCAAnti-inflammatory
Antiproliferative
Antispasmodic
TetrahydrocannabivarinTHCVAnorectic
Anti-convulsive
Bone growth stimulant
TerpenoidPotential Medicinal Value
alpha-BisabololAnti-inflammatory
Antibacterial
alpha-HumuleneAnorectic
Anti-inflammatory
Antiproliferative
alpha-PineneAntibacterial
Antifungal
Anti-inflammatory
Bronchodilator
Expectorant
alpha-TerpineneAntimicrobial
beta-CaryophylleneAntibacterial
Antifungal
Anti-inflammatory
Antiproliferative
Antiseptic
beta-EudesmolAntifungal
Hepatoprotection
beta-MyrceneAnalgesic
Anti-inflammatory
Antiproliferative
Antispasmodic
Sleep aid
beta-PineneAntibacterial
BorneolAnalgesic
Antiseptic
Bronchodilator
Sleep aid
CampheneAntibacterial
Antipruritic
Expectorant
Decongestant
Caryophyllene oxideAntifungal
Anti-ischemic
CineolAnesthetic
Antibacterial
Antidepressant
Anti-fatigue
Antifungal
Anti-inflammatory
Antiemic
Antiproliferative
Antiseptic
Antispasmodic
Bronchodilator
Decongestant
Expectorant
Gastroprotective
Antihepatotoxic
Sedative
CitronellolAnti-inflammatory
Antimicrobial
Antiproliferative
Antispasmodic
Sleep aid
Delta-3-CareneAnti-inflammatory
gamma-TerpineneSedative
GeraniolAntioxidant
GuaiolLaxative
IsopulegolAnalgesic
Antiemetic
Antipruritic
Antispasmodic
Decongestant
LimoneneAntibacterial
Antifungal
Antidepressant
Anti-inflammatory
Antiproliferative
Antispasmodic
Antiviral
Anxiolytic
Bronchodilator
Decongestant
Expectorant
Sedative
LinaloolAnesthetic
Antibacterial
Anticonvulsive
Antidepressant
Antifungal
Anti-inflammatory
Antimicrobial
Antispasmodic
Antiviral
Anxiolytic
Bronchorelaxant
Expectorant
Sedative
Sleep Aid
NerolidolAntifungal
Sleep aid
OcimeneAnti-inflammatory
p-CymeneAntioxidant
PhytolSleep Aid
TerpinoleneAntibacterial
Antifungal
Antiseptic
Sleep Aid

Genetics

To obtain the highest THC and CBD levels, start with good genetics by picking the right strain. Growing conditions affect cannabinoid levels profoundly affect potency. If you decided to experiment with adjusting growing conditions, adjust them one at a time so you can measure the effect of each change.

Moisture Level

Since cannabinoids are not stored in water, drying and curing to achieve a low moisture level of between 6% and 9% will help your sample test higher for cannabinoids.