Cannabis sativa essential oils orally administered to CD1 mice: Tissue distribution of main constituents

The essential oil (EO) obtained from hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) biomass is rich of bioactive constituents and its oral administration can be valuable. In this paper two different hemp EOs were orally administered to CD1 mice. One EO, obtained from the fresh plant material, resulted rich in monoterpenes (monoterpene rich oil, MRO) and the other, obtained from the dried biomass, contained mainly sesquiterpenes and CBD (sesquiterpene rich oil, SRO). The blood levels of the most abundant constituents were evaluated in the animals 30 and 90 min after oral administration of hemp EOs. Furthermore, compounds were also measured in brain, liver, kidney, spleen, and cecum content to evaluate their tissue distribution at the same times. Results showed the easy absorption and the ability of the major hemp EOs constituents to reach brain, liver, and kidney. Oral administration of MRO resulted in blood levels of monoterpenes in the range 45-115 ng/g at 30 min and significant tissue distribution with the detection of monoterpenes in brain, liver, and kidney. Oral administration of SRO resulted in blood levels, at 30 min, in the range 70-80 ng/g of sesquiterpenes and 139 ng/g of CBD. The compounds are still detectable in blood and brain 90 min after oral administration and significant concentrations of terpenoids are observed in liver and kidney. MRO and SRO can be considered as valuable sources of these bioactive compounds and further investigations are needed to evaluate the potential uses of hemp EO as constituent of innovative drug formulations.