Cannabinoids Bee Pollen: Presences of Psychoactive Compound ?9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabinol (CBN) in Cannabis sativa L. (Hemp) on The Characteristics of Apis mellifera L. Raising Protocol in Samoeng, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Abstract

Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) are widely kept by the beekeeping industry since they are relatively gentle and calm easy to obtain, excellent foragers, moderate tendency to swarm, and good, compact brood pattern resulting in a strong workforce for collecting a good amount of nectar and pollen. While ?9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabinol (CBN) are psychoactive constituents. THC and CBN have been well recognizing as potent cannabinoids, unique phytochemical compounds encounter only in Cannabis sativa (hemp) plants. This experimental research aimed to investigate the presences of ?9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabinol (CBN) via a prototype of bee-raising protocol foraging in hemp cultivar to collect hemp pollens. Due to the lack of Endo-cannabinoid system (ECS) in bees that does not likely to negatively affect to them. Theoretically, in-hived stored hemp pollen shall embrace phytochemicals as being abundance in hemp plants, thru biological (biotic) extraction process. In the field experiment, seed production hemp plot in Samoeng, Chiang Mai was fully covered by mosquito net to confine honey bees during male flowering. The extraction of THC and CBN of in-hived stored pollen samples and their abundances were conducted by GC-MS technique at Central Laboratory (Chiang Mai Office). A repeated measures ANOVA model was conducted for statistical analysis. The result was presences of psychoactive compounds, THC and CBN in hemp plants to in-hived honey bee pollen as bee raising produce, significantly (P-value < 0.0009 and =0.034, respectively). However, their intensity were not much in nominal terms due to the Cannabis sativa strains were planted for fiber and seed production in this experiment and less THC and CBN intensities.