November 4, 2024

Why Does Cannabis Smell Skunky? New Compounds Detected With 2D Gas Chromatography

Now, scientists reporting in ACS Omega have actually found a brand-new family of prenylated volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) that offer marijuana its particular skunky scent. Marijuana sativa L. produces more than 200 known aroma substances. Various cannabis cultivars have varied mixtures of these compounds that contribute to their unique scents. Although terpenoids are the most plentiful scent substances in marijuana, there is little proof that they supply the underlying skunk-like odor of many cultivars. To verify that VSC3 was the main source of the skunk-like aroma, the group included it to a mixture of 10 other significant fragrance compounds from marijuana, producing a combined smell extremely similar to the characteristic scent of cannabis.

The scientists examined flowers from 13 marijuana cultivars utilizing a custom-made 2D gas chromatography system with three different kinds of detectors. Then, a four-person panel ranked the pungency of the cultivars on a scale from 0 to 10. The most pungent one, called Bacio Gelato, had the highest concentration of VSCs. The team determined 7 VSCs in this cultivar, some of which were likewise present in other cultivars. 5 of the VSCs contained the prenyl functional group and had skunk-like or sulfuric aromas. One compound in specific, 3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol, described as VSC3, was the most plentiful VSC in the cultivars that the panel reported to be most pungent. This compound has previously been linked in the flavor and aroma of “skunked beer”– beer that goes bad after being exposed to UV light.
To validate that VSC3 was the primary source of the skunk-like scent, the group included it to a mix of 10 other major scent substances from marijuana, producing a combined smell very similar to the characteristic scent of marijuana. In greenhouse experiments, the researchers determined that the prenylated VSCs increased considerably toward the end of the flowering stage of cannabis development, reached a maximum throughout treating and then dropped significantly after 10 days of storage.
Recommendation: “Identification of a New Family of Prenylated Volatile Sulfur Compounds in Cannabis Revealed by Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography” by Iain W. H. Oswald, Marcos A. Ojeda, Ryan J. Pobanz, Kevin A. Koby, Anthony J. Buchanan, Josh Del Rosso, Mario A. Guzman and Thomas J. Martin, 12 November 2021, ACS Omega.DOI: 10.1021/ acsomega.1 c04196.
The authors do not acknowledge any external funding sources for this study. 3 of the authors have actually submitted a patent associated to the findings.
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As cannabis is legislated in more locations, it has become significantly popular as a recreational and medical drug. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Omega have found a new household of prenylated unpredictable sulfur substances (VSCs) that offer cannabis its particular skunky aroma.
Marijuana sativa L. produces more than 200 recognized fragrance substances. Various cannabis cultivars have diverse mixtures of these substances that contribute to their distinct fragrances. Although terpenoids are the most abundant fragrance substances in cannabis, there is little proof that they provide the underlying skunk-like smell of many cultivars.