Toward the identification of a phytocannabinoid-like compound in the flowers of a South African medicinal plant (Leonotis leonurus)

摘要

HPTLC phytochemical profile of Leonotis leonurus var. albiflora Benth. whole flower extract. aL. leonurus var. albiflora Benth. white flower phenotypic appearance (Photo courtesy of Dr B Loedolff) and b its corresponding acetonitrile (75%) extract, HPTLC phytochemical profile. Whole flower metabolite extractions were prepared using various extraction solvents and, the acetonitrile (75%) extracts were selected for downstream analyses. The phytochemical profile was developed fully (mobile phase; chloroform:methanol 9:1, stationary phase; silica60Å) before reagent visualization (0.1% Fast blue B salt dissolved in 1 mM NaOH) was applied to reveal potential pCB candidates, based solely on an red–orange colour development. Compound x (Rf value: 0.55) represents a colorimetric-specific pCB-like candidate compound which was selected for further LC–MS/MS analyses