• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.226-231
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• 2010

Oral fluid has become increasingly popular as an alternative specimen in the field of driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) and work place drug testing. In this study, an analytical method for the detection and quantification of ${\Delta}^9$-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its metabolite, 11-nor-9-carboxy-${\Delta}^9$-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) in oral fluid by SPE and GC-MS was established and fully validated. The stability of THC and THC-COOH in oral fluid during storage was also determined by examining the THC and THC-COOH concentration changes depending on time and container materials. Oral fluid samples were kept over 21 days at room temperature, $-4^{\circ}C$ and $-20^{\circ}C$ in two different specimen collection tubes; glass and polypropylene tubes. Three replicates for each condition with different temperature and types of a container were analyzed at five different time points over 21 days. When oral fluid samples were stored in glass tubes, the loss of both THC and THC-COOH was less than 10% at all room temperature, $-4^{\circ}C$ and $-20^{\circ}C$. However, in polypropylene tubes, the loss of both THC and THC-COOH increased significantly over the study period. In particular, the concentration of THC decreased more rapidly than that of THC-COOH at room temperature and the maximal percentage of THC lost was 90.3% after 21 days. The result indicates that it would be necessary to collect oral fluid samples in glass containers and cool the samples until analysis in order to prevent the degradation of analytes.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.194-199
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• 2002

Many oxidative metabolites of tetrahydrocannabinols (THCs), active components of marijuana, were pharmacologically active, and 11-hydroxy-THCs, 11-oxo-${\Delta}^8$-THC, 7-oxo-${\Delta}^8$-THC, 8$\beta$, 9$\beta$-epoxyhexahydrocannabinol (EHHC), 9$\alpha$, l0$\alpha$-EHHC and 3'-hydroxy-${\Delta}^9$-THC were more active than THC in pharmacological effects such as catalepsy, hypothermia and barbiturate synergism in mice. Cannabidiol (CBD), another major component, was biotransfomred to two novel metabolites, 6-hydroxymethyl-${\Delta}^9$-THC and 3-pentyl-6, 7, 7a, 8, 9, lla-hexahydro-I, 7-dihydroxy-7, 1O-dimethyldibenzo[b, d]oxepin (PHDO) through 8R, 9-epoxy-CBD and 85, 9-epoxy-CBD, respectively. Both metabolites exhibited some pharmacological effects comparable to d9 - THe. Cannabinol (CBN), the other major component, was mainly metabolized to ll-hydroxy-CBN by hepatic microsomes of animals including humans. The pharmacological effects of the metabolite were higher than those of CBN demonstrating that II-hydroxylation of CBN is metabolic activation pathway of the cannabinoid as is the case in THCs. Tolerance and reciprocal cross-tolerance developed to pharmacological effects d8 - THC and ll-hydroxy-d8-THC , and the magnitude of tolerance development produced by the metabolite was significantly higher than that by d8-THC. The results indicate that ll-hydroxy-d8-THC has an important role not only in the pharmacological effects but also its tolerance development of d8 - THe. THCs and their metabolites competed to the specific binding of CP-55, 940, an agonist of cannabinoid receptor, to synaptic membrane from bovine cerebral cortex. The Ki value of THCs and their metabolites were closely paralleled to their pharmacological effects in mice. A novel cytochrome P450 (cyp2c29) was purified and identified as a major enzyme responsible for the metabolic activation of d8-THC at the II-position in the mouse liver. cDNA of CYP2C29 was cloned from a mouse cDNA library and its sequence was determined. The oxidation mechanism of THC by cyp2c29 was proposed.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1086-1091
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• 2005

An analytical method was developed for evaluating the cannabidiol (CBO), cannabinol (CBN), ${\Delta}^9-tetrahydrocannabinol$ $({\Delta}^9-THC)$ level in human hair using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Hair samples (50mg) were washed with isopropyl alcohol and cut into small fragments (< 1mm). After adding a deuterated internal standard, the hair samples were incubated in 1.0M NaOH for 10 min at $95^{\circ}C$. The analytes from the resulting hydrolyzed samples were extracted using a mixture of n-hexane-ethyl acetate (75:25, v/v). The extracts were then evaporated, derivatized, and injected into the GC-MS. The recovery ranges of CBD, CBN, and ${\Delta}^9-THC$ at three concentration levels were $37.9-94.5\%$ with good correlation coefficients $(r^2>0.9989)$. The intra-day precision and accuracy ranged from $-9.4\%\;to\;17.7\%$, and the inter-day precision and accuracy ranged from $-15.5\%\;to\;14.5\%$, respectively. The limits of detection (LOD) for CBD, CBN, and ${\Delta}^9-THC$ were 0.005, 0.002, and 0.006 ng/mg, respectively. The applicability of this method of analyzing the hair samples from cannabis abusers was demonstrated.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.207-212
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• 2004

An analytic method was developed for the quantitation of $\Delta$$^{9}-$ tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and 11-nor-9-carboxy THC (THC-COOH) in human hair. After hair samples were pulverized using Freezer Mill, deuterated internal standards were added and digested in 1 N NaOH at $100^{\circ}C$ water bath for 30 min. Digest solutions were extracted by 5 ml hexane：ethyl acetate (90：10) after acidification with acetic acid. The organic phase was evaporated under N 2 and derivatized by BSTFA (with 1% TMCS) at $85^{\circ}C$ for 45 min. The derivatized solution was separated on HP-5MS column ($30m{\times}0.25mm{\times}0.25mm$) and detected using EI-GC-MS with selective ion monitoring mode. The assay of calibration was ranged from 5 to 100 ng/50 mg hair ($r^2$＞0.99) for THC and THC-COOH. Within and between-run precision were calculated at 6, 30, 60 ng/50 mg hair with coefficients of variation less than 11%. Within and between run accuracies at the same concentrations were$\pm$14% and $\pm$30% of target for both analytes, respectively. Absolute and relative recovery at 10 and 100 ng were 60∼91％. The method was used to detect and quantify THC and THC-COOH in cannabis abuser's hairs (N = 16) and SRM (N=5, THC 1 ng/mg, NIST). We detected THC and THC-COOH in only one hair sample. In SRM, % accuracy was 93% (range 86∼103%) and precision (% CV) was 8.14. We began to set up a quantitative analysis of THC and THC-COOH using EI-GC-MS. Continuously, we need to modify and develop this method in order to apply for identification in cannanbis users' hair.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.215-219
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• 1999

Monoclonal antibody for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabiol (THC Ab), conjugated with protein A-gold, was employed as a probe to detect THC localization in the gland and subjacent cells of chemically fixed bracts of Cannabis. THC was detected in the outer wall of the disc cells, fibrillar matrix, the surface feature of secretory vesicles, and sheath throughout development of the secretory cavity. The probe was absent from vesicles. Label was also present in anticlinal walls of disc cells and walls of dermal and mesophyll cells. Little or no THC Ab was present in disc cells and none were detected in control tissues. This distribution pattern of THC Ab was similar to that in tissues prepared by high pressure cryofixation-cryosubstitution. Consistent association of THC with wall and wall-derived materials suggests that cannnabinoids are synthesized outside the plasma membrane and bound to a wall component, where-upon they are transported to the cavity with wall materials released from the disc cell wall during development of the secretory cavity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.57-64
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• 2007

Metabolic interactions of the three major cannabinoids, ${\Delta}^9$-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabinol (CBN) with steroid hormones were investigated. These cannabioids concentration-dependently inhibited $3{\beta}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and $17{\alpha}$-hydroxylase in rat adrenal and testis microsomes. CBD and CBN were the most potent inhibitors of $3{\beta}$-phydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and progesterone $17{\alpha}$-hydroxylase, respectively, in rat testis microsomes. Three cannabinoids highly attenuated hCG-stimulated testosterone production in rat testicular interstitial cells. These cannabinoids also decreased in levels of mRNA and protein of StAR in the rat testis cells. These results indicate that the cannabinoids could interact with steroid hormones, and exert their modulatory effects on endocrine and testicular functions. Metabolic interaction of a THC metabolite, $7{\beta}$-hydroxy-${\Delta}^8$-THC with steroids is also investigated. Monkey liver microsomes catalyzed the stereoselective oxidation of $7{\beta}$-hydroxy-${\Delta}^8$-THC to 7-oxo-${\Delta}^8$-THC, so-called microsomal alcohol oxygenase (MALCO). The reaction is catalyzed by CYP3A8 in the monkey liver microsomes, and required NADH as well as NADPH as an efficient cofactor, and its activity is stimulated by some steroids such as testosterone and progesterone. Kinetic analyses revealed that MALCO-catalyze reaction showed positive cooperativity. In order to explain the metabolic interaction between the cannabinoid metabolite and testosterone, we propose a novel kinetic model involving at least three binding sites for mechanism of the metabolic interactions.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2011

We described an estimation of measurement uncertainty in quantitative analysis of 11-nor-9-carboxy-${\Delta}^9$-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH), the metabolite of ${\Delta}^9$-tetrahydrocannabinol, in hair samples by using the bead-assisted liquid-liquid extraction and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (GC-NCI-MS/MS) detection. Traceability of measurement was established through the use of reference materials, calibrated volumetric tubes, volume measuring devices, and measuring instruments. The analytical results were compared and the different contributions to the uncertainty were evaluated. Inter-day variation was performed by using statistical analysis of several indicative factors. Measurement uncertainty associated with the analyte in real forensic hair samples were estimated using QC data. The major factor of contribution to combined standard uncertainty was inter-day repeatability, while those associated with preparation of analytical standard and also sample of weight were insignificant considering the degree of contribution. Relative uncertainty of relative extended standard uncertainty divided into the measured concentration of the analyte was 17% in a hair sample. The uncertainty of result evaluation will be invaluable to improve quality of the analysis.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.172-175
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• 2008

Stable isotope ratio of carbon and nitrogen ($\delta^{13}C$ & $\delta^{15}N$), and $\Delta^{9}$-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) contents were measured on 37 Korean cannabis and 10 commercial grade marijuana seized in Korea. Factors influencing on the measured values and their variations were investigated. $\delta^{13}C$ value of cannabis is specified mainly by water availability. Korean cannabis showed relatively low $\delta^{13}C$ values ranging -33.29$\sim$-27.01% (mean=-31.01%), which reflect geographic conditions of Korea where is rainy, especially during summer. $\delta^{15}N$ values, which reflect individual planting conditions, were relatively high up to -0.5$\sim$18.0% (mean=6.44%). It reflects characteristics of Korean cannabis growing wild in forest or cultivated in fertile soil. Tetrahydrocannabinol is the major hallucinogenic compound of cannabis. Ethanol extracts of cannabis leaves were derivatized by N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA), and the derivatives were analyzed by GC-MS in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. THC contents of Korean cannabis ranged 0.11$\sim$4.34% (mean=1.47%), which were relatively low compared with commercial grade marijuana.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.363-369
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• 2014

Synthetic cannabinoids (CBs) such as the JWH series have caused social problems concerning their abuse liability. Because the JWH series produces euphoric and hallucinogenic effects, they have been distributed illegally under street names such as "Spice" and "Smoke". Many countries including Korea have started to schedule some of the JWH series compounds as controlled substances, but there are a number of JWH series chemicals that remain uncontrolled by law. In this study, three synthetic CBs with different binding affinities to the $CB_1$ receptor (JWH-073, 081, and 210) and ${\Delta}^9$-tetrahydrocannabinol (${\Delta}^9$-THC) were evaluated for their potential for psychological dependence. The conditioned place preference test (unbiased method) and self-administration test (fixed ratio of 1) using rodents were conducted. $K_i$ values of the three synthetic cannabinoids were calculated as supplementary data using a receptor binding assay and overexpressed $CB_1$ protein membranes to compare dependence potential with $CB_1$ receptor binding affinity. All mice administered JWH-073, 081, or 210 showed significantly increased time spent at unpreferred space in a dose-dependence manner in the conditioned place preference test. In contrast, all tested substances except ${\Delta}^9$-THC showed aversion phenomenon at high doses in the conditioned place preference test. The order of affinity to the $CB_1$ receptor in the receptor binding assay was JWH-210 > JWH-081 >> JWH-073, which was in agreement with the results from the conditioned place preference test. However, no change in self-administration was observed. These findings suggest the possibility to predict dependence potential of synthetic CBs through a receptor binding assay at the screening level.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.187-190
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• 2006

In order to produce hemp with low cannabinoids and appropriate fiber yield, seeds of the IH3 (non drug type germplasm) and local variety (drug type cultivar) were mixed to 1:1, 2:1, 3:1 on base of seed weight ratio and cultivated for seed production. In the seed yield trial, the weight of 1000 grains were around 21 g, which was increased in proportion to the ratio of IH3 seeds but seed yield were 100 kg/10a, which were not significantly different by the seeds-mixing ratio. In fiber yield trials with seeds from seed yield trial, fiber yield ranged $193{\sim}198kg/10a$ which was not significantly different by the seeds mixing ratio but the content of THC(${\Delta}$-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) was lowered in proportion to the ratio of IH3 seeds. Variation of THC and CBD (Cannabidiol) level in the 150 plant cultivated with various seed mixing ratio reflected that the percentage of drug and intermediate type were decreased but non drug type were increased in proportion to the ratio of IH3 seeds.