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Our Research
Pioneering the research of cannabis flavor and aroma.
When you think Abstrax, think cannabis science.
We perform peer-reviewed research in partnership with universities and industry-leaders like Mario Guzman of Sherbinskis, Josh D of OG Kush fame, and 710 Labs. Below you’ll find our growing list of case studies, white papers, patents, programs, and collaborations.
White Papers
The Science of Exotic
Part I: The Dawn of Flavorants
Abstrax's peer-reviewed research reveals a new discovery: flavorants - compounds beyond terpenes - are the true influencers behind cannabis's complex aromas. This research challenges the traditional terpene-focused approach, showing how low-concentration flavorants contribute unique scents to each cultivar. This research reveals how these low-concentration compounds can distinguish sweet from savory profiles, even in cultivars with similar terpene levels.
The Science of Exotic
Part II: The Curious Case of Chem
In this second installment, we explore the captivating chemistry behind the sought-after funky, chemical, and savory aromas found in cannabis strains like GMO and Chemdawg. We highlight two key compounds, Indole and Skatole, tracing their discovery, their presence in specific cultivars, and their ties to other natural compounds, including those prominent in psychedelics. Prepare for a deep dive into stanky aromas.
The Science of Exotic
Part III: The Trio of Tropicanna
In this third paper, we question the widely held view that terpenes like d-Limonene are the sole drivers of cannabis’s citrusy, tropical, and "Tangie" aromas. Modern strains such as Sour Tangie, Tropicana Cookies, and Starburst are celebrated for their signature tangerine and tropical fragrances. But what is the hidden chemistry that connects these aromas and sets them apart? Spoiler: it's not terpenes.
Sherbinskis Bacio Gelato
The Gas Giant of Exotic Cannabis
Bacio Gelato, the definitive phenotype from Mario Guzman's Gelato family, is renowned for its intensely potent gassy aroma. To date, it is the gassiest cannabis Abstrax has ever measured. It is also one of the progenitors of modern exotic cannabis with hundreds of direct descendants. Its unique flavor profile is driven by high levels of volatile sulfur compounds, particularly prenylated cannasulfur compounds (PCSCs), which contribute to its intense fuel-like smell.
The Case for Chemohunting
When Art Meets Science
in Cannabis Cultivation
Abstrax introduces "chemohunting," a new approach to cannabis breeding that goes beyond traditional phenohunting by focusing on the chemical complexities of cannabis flavor. By analyzing unique compounds called "flavorants," the study uncovers why plants of the same lineage can produce vastly different aromas and offers breeders a data-driven method to enhance these traits. This innovative approach offers a precise roadmap for breeders to elevate unique flavors and aromas, blending art with science in cannabis cultivation.
The Signature Series
The Cannabis Industry Has A Serious Problem
It all starts with authenticity. If every terpene company is selling the same cultivars and the formulas are all wildly different, then which one is the closest to the real authentic cannabis? We analyzed the Original Jack Herer flower and compared it to popular Jack Herer terpene blends on the market today.
Advancing Inhalation Safety in the Cannabis Industry
Risk Assessment and Toxicological Evaluation Program (RA-TEP)
RA-TEP aims to finally establish the acceptable ingredient use levels for terpene based flavors used in cannabis products, a novel approach that prioritizes consumer safety over all else. This has never been done before.
The Science of Dank
Discovery of New Cannasulfur Compounds
We have all smelt it – that distinctive, gassy, or skunk-like scent of cannabis. Abstrax’s research reveals a hidden dimension in cannabis aroma: Cannasulfur Compounds (CSCs), a newly identified class responsible for the plant’s iconic gassy, skunky scent. Using advanced gas chromatography, the team found an entirely new class of sulfur-based compounds, some of which have never been seen before in nature. This study opens a new frontier in cannabis science.
How Terpenes and CBD Enhance Prosocial Behaviors
A Study by Abstrax and Western Washington University
In this research, scientists closely observed BTBR mice, a strain of mouse specifically bred for insights into Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The study aimed to understand how terpenes and cannabinoids influence ASD-related behaviors.
Residual Solvents in Terpenes
Solvent False Positives and the Need for Standardization
There are currently no standardized testing methods for laboratories to use when testing terpenes and other aromatic compounds for residual solvents. The most popular method used today, headspace analysis, is ill-suited for the safety testing of terpenes and will often return false positives for solvents as a result.
Legalizing BHO in Canada
Abstrax Convinces Legislators to Maintain Hydrocarbon Extraction
In an effort to prevent the passage of legislature outlawing hydrocarbon extraction, Kevin Koby, Chief Scientific Officer of Abstrax, took the opportunity to educate the Canadian government. Ultimately, Koby’s case study convinced legislators that maintaining this extraction method improves safety measures.
Resin, Rosin, or Flower?
An Investigation of the Aroma Profiles of Cannabis Products
To understand the differences between different cannabis products, we conducted a study aimed at determining how the aroma and flavor profiles of the cultivar Tropaya changes between concentrate forms using 2D gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and a flame-ionization detector (GCxGC–MS/FID).
Quantified Mood Impressions of Abstrax AI Terp Effects Blends
A Cannabis Industry Milestone
Abstrax Tech and The Effects Lab by Budboard have teamed up with Dr. Avery Gilbert and sensory consulting firm Synesthetics, Inc. to produce the first sensory evaluation of cannabis-related terpene blends.
The Lost Terpene
Detection of ß-Phellandrene in Jack Herer
Jack Herer possesses a unique and rarely discussed terpene, ß-Phellandrene. This compound is found in relatively high concentrations and is critical to the flavor and aroma of Jack, thus highlighting the need for more sophisticated analytical methods such as GC×GC when understanding the aroma of cannabis.
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Minor, Nonterpenoid Volatile Compounds Drive the Aroma Differences of Exotic Cannabis
ACS Omega Editors’ Choice
Publication Date: October 12, 2023Cannabis sativa L. produces a wide variety of volatile secondary metabolites that contribute to its unique aroma. The major volatile constituents include monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and their oxygenated derivates. In particular, the compounds ß-myrcene, D-(+)-limonene, ß-caryophyllene, and terpinolene are often found in greatest amounts, which has led to their use in chemotaxonomic classification schemes and legal Cannabis sativa L. product labeling. While these compounds contribute to the characteristic aroma of Cannabis sativa L. and may help differentiate varieties on a broad level, their importance in producing specific aromas is not well understood. Here, we show that across Cannabis sativa L. varieties with divergent aromas, terpene expression remains remarkably similar, indicating their benign contribution to these unique, specific scents. Instead, we found that many minor, nonterpenoid compounds correlate strongly with nonprototypical sweet or savory aromas produced by Cannabis sativa L. Coupling sensory studies to our chemical analysis, we derive correlations between groups of compounds, or in some cases, individual compounds, that produce many of these diverse scents. In particular, we identified a new class of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) containing the 3-mercaptohexyl functional group responsible for the distinct citrus aromas in certain varieties and skatole (3-methylindole) as the key source of the chemical aroma in others. Our results provide not only a rich understanding of the chemistry of Cannabis sativa L. but also highlight how the importance of terpenes in the context of the aroma of Cannabis sativa L. has been overemphasized.
Identification of a New Family of Prenylated Volatile Sulfur Compounds in Cannabis Revealed by Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography
ACS Omega
Publication Date: November 12, 2021Cannabis sativa L. produces over 200 known secondary metabolites that contribute to its distinctive aroma. Studies on compounds traditionally associated with the scent of this plant have focused on those within the terpenoid class. These isoprene-derived compounds are ubiquitous in nature and are the major source of many plant odors. Nonetheless, there is little evidence that they provide the characteristic “skunk-like” aroma of cannabis. To uncover the chemical origins of this scent, we measured the aromatic properties of cannabis flowers and concentrated extracts using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography equipped with time-of-flight mass spectrometry, flame ionization detection, and sulfur chemiluminescence. We discovered a new family of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) containing the prenyl (3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl) functional group that is responsible for this scent. In particular, the compound 3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol was identified as the primary odorant. We then conducted an indoor greenhouse experiment to monitor the evolution of these compounds during the plant’s lifecycle and throughout the curing process. We found that the concentrations of these compounds increase substantially during the last weeks of the flowering stage, reach a maximum during curing, and then drop after just one week of storage. These results shed light on the chemical origins of the characteristic aroma of cannabis and how volatile sulfur compound production evolves during plant growth. Furthermore, the chemical similarity between this new family of VSCs and those found in garlic (allium sativum) suggests an opportunity to also investigate their potential health benefits.
Cannabidiol and cannabis-inspired terpene blends have acute prosocial effects in the BTBR mouse model of autism spectrum disorder
Frontiers in Neuroscience
Publication Date: June 16, 2023
Introduction: Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicating phytocannabinoid with increasing popularity due to
its purported therapeutic efficacy for numerous off-label conditions including anxiety and autism
spectrum disorder (ASD). Those with ASD are commonly deficient in endogenous cannabinoid signaling and
GABAergic tone. CBD has a complex pharmacodynamic profile that includes enhancing GABA and
endocannabinoid signaling. Thus, there is mechanistic justification for investigating CBD’s potential to
improve social interaction and related symptoms in ASD. Recent clinical trials in children with ASD
support CBD’s beneficial effects in numerous comorbid symptoms, but its impact on social behavior is
understudied.
Results: We observed that CBD enhanced prosocial behaviors using the 3-Chamber Test with a different
vapor dose-response relationship between prosocial behavior and anxiety-related behavior on the elevated
plus maze. We also identified that inhalation of a vaporized terpene blend from the popular OG Kush
cannabis strain increased prosocial behavior independently of CBD and acted together with CBD to promote
a robust prosocial effect. We observed similar prosocial effects with two additional cannabis terpene
blends from the Do-Si-Dos and Blue Dream strains, and further reveal that these prosocial benefits rely
on the combination of multiple terpenes that comprise the blends.
Chemical and Toxicological Characterization of Vaping Emission Products from Commonly Used Vape Juice Diluents
ACS Chemical Research in Toxicology
Publication Date: July 3, 2020Recent reports have linked severe lung injuries and deaths to the use of e-cigarettes and vaping products. Nevertheless, the causal relationship between exposure to vaping emissions and the observed health outcomes remains to be elucidated. Through chemical and toxicological characterization of vaping emission products, this study demonstrates that during vaping processes, changes in chemical composition of several commonly used vape juice diluents (also known as cutting agents) lead to the formation of toxic byproducts, including quinones, carbonyls, esters, and alkyl alcohols. The resulting vaping emission condensates cause inhibited cell proliferation and enhanced cytotoxicity in human airway epithelial cells. Notably, substantial formation of the duroquinone and durohydroquinone redox couple was observed in the vaping emissions from vitamin E acetate, which may be linked to acute oxidative stress and lung injuries reported by previous studies. These findings provide an improved molecular understanding and highlight the significant role of toxic byproducts in vaping-associated health effects.
Nonterpenoid Chemical Diversity of Cannabis Phenotypes Predicts Differentiated Aroma Characteristics
ACS Omega
Publication Date: June 19, 2024The recent increase in legality of Cannabis Sativa L. has led to interest in developing new varieties with unique aromatic or effect-driven traits. Selectively breeding plants for the genetic stability and consistency of their secondary metabolite profiles is one application of phenotyping. While this horticultural process is used extensively in the cannabis industry few studies exist examining the chemical data that may differentiate phenotypes aromatically. To gain insight into the diversity of secondary metabolite profiles between progeny we analyzed five ice water hash rosin extracts created from five different phenotypes of the same crossing using comprehensive 2-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry flame ionization detection and sulfur chemiluminescence detection. These results were then correlated to results from a human sensory panel which revealed specific low-concentration compounds that strongly influence sensory perception. We found aroma differences between certain phenotypes that are driven by key minor nonterpenoid compounds including the newly reported 3-mercaptohexyl hexanoate. We further report the identification of octanoic and decanoic acids which are implicated in the production of cheese-like aromas in cannabis. These results establish that even genetically similar phenotypes can possess diverse and distinct aromas arising not from the dominant terpenes but rather from key minor volatile compounds. Moreover our study underscores the value of detailed chemical analyses in enhancing cannabis selective breeding practices offering insights into the chemical basis of aroma and sensory differences.
Abstrax Patents
Sulfur-Containing Volatile Organic Compounds in Cannabis
Publication Date: August 19th, 2021
We patented the usage of cannasulfurs (read our discovery here) in botanically-derived formulations and additions for a variety of product applications including edibles, aerosols, flavors, fragrances, and inhaleables.
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