Metabolomics in Cannabis

This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the metabolomic landscape of Cannabis sativa, focusing on its rich chemical diversity and the analytical techniques used to study it. It explores the biosynthesis, roles, and therapeutic potential of key secondary metabolites—cannabinoids, terpenoids, and flavonoids—highlighting their complex interactions and the "entourage effect." The chapter also details advanced profiling methods such as GC-MS, LC-MS, NMR, and HRMS, and discusses how these are used to identify and quantify cannabis compounds. Furthermore, it emphasizes the integration of metabolomics with other omics approaches (genomics and transcriptomics) to better understand biosynthetic pathways and improve cannabis breeding and quality control. The chapter concludes with a summary of recent studies and a call for continued innovation in multi-omics research to unlock the full potential of cannabis in medicine and agriculture.