Effects of thermal processing on cannabidiol degradation in cannabidiol-infused pomegranate juice and evaluation of its antioxidant property

Vanida Osiripun; Sasirindara Labua

Authors

Vanida Osiripun Faculty of Food Technology, College of Agricultural Innovation and Food Technology, Rangsit University, Pathum Thani 12000, Thailand
Sasirindara Labua Faculty of Food Technology, College of Agricultural Innovation and Food Technology, Rangsit University, Pathum Thani 12000, Thailand

Keywords:

antioxidant, cannabidiol (CBD), pasteurization, pomegranate juice, sterilization, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

Abstract

Cannabidiol (CBD) is an active phytocannabinoid widely used in functional foods as well as nutraceutical and medicinal products. In this study, the effects of pasteurization and sterilization on the change of cannabidiol and total phenolic content, including antioxidant capacity in pomegranate juice containing 3.5 and 7.0 mg/L CBD, were evaluated. The CBD solution was prepared in absolute ethanol and added to pomegranate juice to obtain a final CBD concentration of not more than 1.41 mg/package. CBD and its degradation products; Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinol (CBN), after heat treatment were measured using the HPLC-DAD method. After heat treatment, total phenolic content of the juices significantly increased except for the juice containing 7.0 mg/L corresponding to an increase of antioxidant capacity. The results showed that thermal processing decreased CBD content. The higher the temperature, the lower the CBD content remained. Pasteurized pomegranate juice containing 3.5 and 7.0 mg/L CBD decreased by roughly 25%, but the sterilized juice decreased by 85.7% and 92% respectively. In consideration of CBN, a less psychoactive cannabinoid compound was not detected after pasteurization and sterilization. Sterilization increased the considerable THC content in pomegranate juice containing 7.0 mg/L CBD more than that containing 3.0 mg/L CBD. Conversely, only the pomegranate juice which contained 7.0 mg/L of CBD had a slight rise in THC content due to pasteurization. It could be concluded that thermal processing by sterilization had potential effects on CBD degradation. However, the formation of THC did not exceed 1.6 mg/package as specified in the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health No. 427 B.E. 2564 (2021), Thailand.

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