Extraction of cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes from cannabis

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to methods for extracting natural products from plants or plant material. The present invention relates to a process for preparing an extract from cannabis, the process comprising the steps of treating cannabis with carbon dioxide at a temperature of 0°C to 15°C and a pressure of 1250 psi to 1600 psi to obtain an extract, and centrifuging the extract at between 20°C and 40°C. In another aspect, the present invention provides a cannabis extract comprising cannabinoids in the range of 30-75%, terpenes in the range of 5-35%, and flavonoids.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a method for extracting natural products from plants or plant materials. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for extracting cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes from plants of the genus Cannabis.

Background Art

[0002] Plant extracts containing cannabinoids are in high demand for medicinal and other uses and can be obtained by various extraction means of cannabis plant materials. Such means include, but are not limited to, supercritical or subcritical extraction with carbon dioxide (CO2), extraction with high-temperature gases, and extraction with solvents. These methods known to those skilled in the art are insufficient for many reasons.

[0003] One problem with supercritical carbon dioxide extraction is the high cost of the equipment. Also, since it is carried out at high pressures (2000 - 5000 psig, i.e., pounds per square inch gauge), it generally has an adverse effect on the quality and yield of the final product extract. Even with this method, low-purity extracts (30 - 70% THC by purity, 3 - 10% by weight of the plant) (Patent Document 1 by Murty et al.) are produced, and there is also a large amount of water bound to THC. Another drawback of supercritical CO2 extraction is that it is carried out in small batches. Each batch can take up to 8 hours to complete. Also, similar to the non-polar solvent extraction method, the extract is further purified by purification necessary to remove components of the concentrate that are not desirable for main medical uses such as lipids, waxes, residual moisture, etc. These all dilute the active compounds such as cannabinoids, terpenoids, flavonoids, etc., and expose the concentrate to danger by accelerating their decomposition.

[0004] While the terpenes and flavonoids in cannabis have medicinal value and are used in many pharmaceutical formulations, their concentrations are low in typical CO2 extraction methods for various reasons. This is primarily because most terpenes and flavonoids commonly found in cannabis have relatively low volatility points, and their volatility makes their concentrations impractical in the purification process under typical CO2 parameters.

[0005] The purification methods typically applied to CO2 concentrates further interfere with and dilute the presence of terpene and flavonoid compounds in the resulting purified cannabis concentrate. This is because the concentrate is exposed to temperatures above the volatility points of the aromatic compounds during purification. Therefore, if the compounds are recaptured, decomposition occurs, or if the compounds are completely lost and no longer components of the purified concentrate, decomposition occurs. These conditions are necessary when using common methods that require the addition and subsequent removal of a secondary solvent. When the solvent is evaporated to remove it from the concentrate, the volatility points of the terpenes and flavonoids are exceeded, so at best, if the compounds are recaptured, decomposition occurs, or they are completely lost in the solvent purging process and no longer components of the purified concentrate. If the solvent is not evaporated and purged, the quality of the concentrate is significantly reduced and potentially dangerous due to the inevitable levels of residual solvent retained in the concentrate itself. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003 / 0050334 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] A cheaper and safer extraction of cannabinoids from cannabis plants is desired. Ideally, this process should yield an extract containing cannabinoids, along with flavonoids and terpenes, in high yield. Furthermore, it is desirable that the extract be substantially free of waxes, resins, or other undesirable compounds. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a concentration method that preserves the full spectrum of the plant's active compounds as much as possible, is free of residual solvents, and is of high purity. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a solvent-free process for preparing an extract from cannabis, the process being • An extraction step in which cannabis is treated with carbon dioxide at a temperature of 0°C to 15°C and a pressure of 1250 psi to 1600 psi to obtain an extract. • The step of centrifuging the extract between 20°C and 40°C, Includes.

[0009] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a cannabis extract comprising cannabinoids in the range of 30-75%, terpenes in the range of 5-35%, and flavonoids. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] This invention relates to a process for preparing an extract from cannabis, and to the extract prepared therefrom, which is a highly purified cannabis concentrate rich in cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes, and contains a wide range of plant-derived compounds. This process minimizes the degradation of plant-derived volatile compounds.

[0011] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a process for preparing an extract from cannabis, the process being • An extraction step in which cannabis is treated with carbon dioxide at a temperature between 0°C and 15°C and a pressure of 1250 psi to 1600 psi to obtain an extract. • The step of centrifuging the extract between 20°C and 40°C, Includes.

[0012] In this regard, the extraction step is preferably followed by a decarboxylation step between 115°C and 140°C, and then centrifuged at 16°C and 27°C. These parameters allow for the effective concentration of a comprehensive spectrum of plant cannabinoid, terpenoid, and flavonoid profiles without the denaturation that occurs at high temperatures and pressures. Furthermore, the extraction process carried out under these parameters leaves many waxes and lipids in the plant and does not include them in the resulting concentrate, thus facilitating subsequent purification.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, centrifugation is performed in a refrigerated centrifuge to mechanically separate the components of the concentrate. Lipids, waxes, and water are separated from the desired concentrate material without decomposing the aromatic profile, provided that the temperature is strictly controlled. In this regard, centrifugation is typically performed by a series of cycles through the centrifuge at 5,000 to 12,000 RPM over 30 minutes to 6 hours. In the temperature range of 20°C to 40°C, it is ideal to remove components that can be separated more easily in subsequent cycles, and then increase the temperature and pressure in subsequent cycles, in order to minimize exposure to high temperatures.

[0014] By carefully controlling the temperature and pressure to below the supercritical temperature and pressure, we were able to separate specific fractions rich in cannabinoids, along with terpenes and flavonoids, which can be separated relatively easily, to obtain extracts containing the desired components in an acceptable form.

[0015] Furthermore, excellent batch-to-batch reproducibility can be achieved, and unwanted components that may be present in varying degrees in the raw materials, such as waxes, resins, or other undesirable compounds, can be left in the discharged material.

[0016] In another embodiment, the present invention also relates to a cannabis extract containing cannabinoids in the range of 30-75%, terpenes in the range of 5-35%, and flavonoids.

[0017] In one embodiment, the cannabis extract is obtained at a yield of 6 to 20% by mass.

[0018] In yet another aspect, the extract can be used in a wide range of applications and can be added as a concentrate for pharmaceuticals, foods, herbal preparations, and supplements.

[0019] Advantageously, this process as a whole is a series of processes that are important for their combination and specificity, resulting in a purified cannabis extract. This extract is obtained by single-stage extraction without using a secondary solvent-based winterization process, in contrast to conventional practices involving multi-stage processes. Thus, this extract provides highly medically important plant extracts in a stable form.

Examples

[0020] The following experimental examples are illustrative of the present invention but do not limit its scope. The cannabis plant material was cultivated under the medical cannabis laws of the state of California.

[0021] The plant material was subjected to a pre-extraction process and prepared to specifications including removal of non-flowering plant components, appropriate moisture levels, appropriate process temperature control, etc. Thereafter, the plant material, preferably the flowering parts, was ground and loaded into a CO2 extractor. The extractor was operated within a set of specific parameters that allowed for concentration, and there was an accumulation of "crude" concentrate removed from the collection chamber. Next, this material was loaded into centrifuge tubes and passed through an initial centrifugation process at the start of the designated centrifugation protocol. From here, a manual separation process was performed to remove the purified oil from lipids, waxes, and aqueous contaminants. Next, further steps of the centrifugation protocol were utilized to more thoroughly and completely purify the concentrate until the process was complete. The resulting concentrate was utilized according to the goals of product development.

[0022] The foregoing description of the present invention is set up solely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to limit it. Modifications of embodiments disclosed incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention are conceivable to those skilled in the art, so the invention should be construed as encompassing everything within the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

[Claim 1] A solvent-free process for preparing an extract from cannabis, - An extraction step to obtain the extract by treating the cannabis with carbon dioxide at a temperature between 0°C and 15°C and a pressure between 1250 psi and 1600 psi, - A decarboxylation step performed at a temperature of 115°C to 140°C after the extraction step, - After the decarboxylation step, the extract is centrifuged at a temperature between 20°C and 40°C. - A step of manually separating the contents after the centrifugation, Includes, The aforementioned centrifugal separation is performed multiple times at rotational speeds of 5000 to 12000 RPM. Without adding a secondary solvent and without using a secondary solvent-based winterization process, Solvent-free process.