Table 3 Key properties of common HPLC methods for analysing cannabinoids in eight different studies

C18 column

Methanol and water, acidified with formic acid

THCA, CBGA, CBCA, THC, CBG, CBC

2 μL

200–400 nm

N/A

N/A

(Romano and Hazekamp 2013)

C18 with a C18 guard column

Methanol and water, acidified with formic acid

16 major cannabinoids

Not stated

280–650 nm

N/A

N/A

(Hazekamp et al. 2005)

C18 with a C18 guard column

Methanol and water, acidified with formic acid

Δ⁹-THC, CBD, CBN, CBG, THCA, CBGA, CBDA

Not stated

200–400 nm

N/A

N/A

(Hazekamp et al. 2009)

C18 column

0.1% formic acid in both (A) H2O and (B) ACN

CBDA, CBGA, CBD, CBG

3 μL

2.5–200(μg/mL)

0.5–0.8 (μg/mL)

1.8–2.5(μg/mL)

(Brighenti et al. 2017)

RP18 end-capped column with a guard column

15% of acetic acid in water and methanol

CBG, CBD, CBDA, CBN, CBGA, THC, CBC, THCA

50 μL

220–280 nm

N/A

N/A

(Namdar et al. 2018)

C18 column

0.1% formic acid in both (A) H₂O and (B) ACN

CBDA-CBD

3 μL

>  0.999

0.4–0.1 μg/mL

1.3–0.3 μg/mL

(Pellati et al. 2018)

Silica column, with guard column

Hexane/2-propanol/dimethyl propane (1000/5/1, v/v/v)

N/A

20 mL

200–440 nm

N/A

N/A

(Oomah et al. 2002)

C18 end capped column with guard column

15% of acetic acid in water and methanol

CBG, CBD, THC, CBC, CBN

50 μL

220–280 nm

N/A

N/A

(Namdar et al. 2019)