ISOLATION AND STUDY OF THE POLYSACCHARIDE COMPLEX ISOLATED FROM AESCULUS HIPPOCASTA-NUM L.

This paper presents the results of a study of the polysaccharide complex, first obtained using microwave radiation from the shells of horse chestnut seeds (Aesculus Hippocastanum L.), collected on the territory of the Tashkent region of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It is shown that the use of microwave waves makes it possible to intensify the method of obtaining polysaccharides with an increase in their yield. The yield of the obtained product reaches 13%, compared with the method of obtaining without using microwave radiation (9.85%), which indicates the prospects of using microwave radiation in the isolation of polysaccharides from this type of raw material. The molecular weight characteristics were determined, and using GC/MS analysis of trimethylsilyl derivatives, the monosaccharide composition of the complex isolated from the shells of the Semyon chestnut by alkaline extraction was established. It was found that the isolated polysaccharides consist mainly of arabinose and galactose residues (65–100%), and also, as minor monosaccharides, up to 35% of glucose, xylose, mannose, rhamnose, ribose residues. Signals and absorption bands corresponding to total polysaccharides were observed in 13C NMR and IR spectra. The NMR analysis data are consistent with the results of the analysis of the monosaccharide composition of the polysaccharide complex obtained using GC / MS. The antiradical activity of the polysaccharide complex has been established.

EVALI Vaping Liquids Part 1: GC-MS Cannabinoids Profiles and Identification of Unnatural THC Isomers

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-containing products played a major role in the 2019 US nationwide outbreak of pulmonary lung illness associated with e-cigarettes or vaping liquids (EVALI). Due to the severity of the illness which resulted in 68 deaths, a comprehensive identification of the components in the vaping liquids was required. Our laboratory received over 1000 vaping liquid products for analysis including hundreds of vaping products from EVALI patients. In this work, we present the results for the GC-MS identification of the cannabinoids from a large subset of ca. 300 Cannabis-based vaping liquids, with emphasis on the identification of a series of unnatural THC isomers. GC-MS analysis was conducted using a validated, published method in which the cannabinoids were identified as the trimethylsilyl derivatives after separation on a commercial 35% silphenylene phase. Δ9- Tetrahydrocannabinol is the naturally occurring THC isomer found in the Cannabis plant, and was found in the majority of the vaping liquids. However, we also identified the presence of one or more additional THC isomers in many of the vaping liquids including Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol, Δ6a,10a–tetrahydrocannabinol, Δ10-tetrahydrocannabinol, and exo-tetrahydrocannabinol. Significant or major amounts of unnatural THC isomers were found in over 10% of the THC vaping liquids, with lesser amounts found in another 60% of the vaping liquids. Exposure of the Cannabis source materials (such as marijuana concentrates or converted hemp materials) to chemical and thermal treatments during manufacturing, is proposed as the primary cause for the THC isomerizations.