Métodos extrativos clássicos e modernos para obtenção de insumos ativos vegetais da espécie Cannabis sativa L.: uma revisão narrativa

Abstract

The species Cannabis sativa L. is one of the oldest medicinal plants used by humans and contains a variety of bioactive compounds, the biological effects and interactions of which are not yet fully understood, despite evidence of their therapeutic effects. This study aimed to conduct a narrative review of the classical and modern methods used in obtaining active plant inputs from the species C. sativa. To achieve this objective, a review of scientific literature related to C. sativa extraction using the descriptors "Extract cannabis," "Extraction of cannabinoids," "Hemp oil," and "Extraction methods for cannabinoids" was performed, and the databases used were ScienceDirect, PubMed, Scielo, and Google Scholar. The extraction methods found for obtaining cannabinoids included maceration, soxhlet extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, steam distillation, and hydrodistillation. The results of this review indicated that modern extraction methods have proven to be as or more effective than traditional methods. This effectiveness was especially evident in laboratory and industrial settings, where many of these methods have shown to be environmentally sustainable. Furthermore, it was observed that there are at least six patents registered for cannabinoid extraction. It is concluded that research and development of modern cannabinoid extraction methods are essential to meet the growing demands of the Cannabis-related industry. These methods have not only proven effective in obtaining bioactive compounds but also offer significant benefits in terms of time and energy savings, in addition to being environmentally sustainable. Therefore, ongoing research in this area is crucial to meet industry demands and ensure the quality and efficiency of Cannabis-related products.