Yunnan hemp varieties reveal distinct CBD, THC, and terpene profiles

In this paper, the cannabinoid and terpene components of three different varieties of industrial hemp inflorescence and leaves from Yunnan Province, China, were investigated through liquid chromatography (LC) and headspace solid-phase micro-extraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS). The qualitative and quantitative analyses data were statistically analyzed to identify and distinguish the differences and correlations among the different cultivars. The results showed that the content of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) in all the samples of experiment was less than 0.3%, meeting the legal requirements of industrial hemp in China. The Δ9-THC content in hemp flowers and leaves of the three varieties "Yunma 7, 8, and 10" decreased in turn, while the content of cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) gradually increased, which reflected the differences in the key chemical substance contents among the three varieties with different uses. The content of total beneficial cannabinoids and cannabidiol (CBD) was the highest in Yunma 8. The volatile components of the Yunma variety are extremely abundant, and among them, terpenes are the main components that contribute the distinctive aroma of "Yunma," including caryophyllene, bisabolene, humulene, and alloaromadendrene. The finding of this study may help provide a reference for the medical and pharmaceutical development of industrial hemp, while also providing a scientific basis for variety optimization of the Yunma series.