AUTHOR=Lyons Chloe , McEwan Katelyn , Munn-Patterson Meara , Vuong Stephanie , Alcorn Jane , Chicoine Alan 

TITLE=Pharmacokinetic of two oral doses of a 1:20 THC:CBD cannabis herbal extract in cats

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1352495

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2024.1352495

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<sec id="sec1"><title>Objective</title><p>To determine the pharmacokinetics (PK) of two oral doses of a <italic>Cannabis</italic> herbal extract (CHE) containing 1:20 THC:CBD in 12 healthy Domestic Shorthair cats.</p></sec><sec id="sec2"><title>Methods</title><p>Single-dose PK were assessed after oral administration of CHE at low or high dose (2 mg CBD + 0.1 mg THC, or 5 mg CBD + 0.25 mg THC per kg bw, respectively; <italic>n</italic> = 6 per group) in fasting cats. Blood samples were drawn up to 48 h following CHE administration. Plasma samples were analyzed for CBD, THC, and metabolites 6-OH-CBD, 7-OH-CBD, 11-OH-THC, and THC-COOH using a previously validated LC–MS/MS method.</p></sec><sec id="sec3"><title>Results</title><p>CBD and THC were quickly absorbed (mean <italic>T</italic><sub>max</sub> of 2.4–2.9 h). Maximum plasma concentrations (<italic>C</italic><sub>max</sub>) ranged from 36–511 ng/mL and 6.8–61 ng/mL for CBD and THC, respectively. Elimination was initially rapid for both CBD and THC, though a prolonged elimination phase was noted for CBD in some cats (T<sub>1/2 λ</sub> up to 26 h). Dose-adjusted <italic>C</italic><sub>max</sub> and AUC<sub>0-last</sub> values were not statistically significantly different (<italic>p</italic> &gt; 0.05) between dose groups indicating CBD and THC concentrations increased in a manner proportional (linear) to the dose. Dose-adjusted THC <italic>C</italic><sub>max</sub> and AUC<sub>0-last</sub> were significantly higher than the corresponding dose-adjusted CBD parameters (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01). Low concentrations of the metabolite 6-OH-CBD were quantified but metabolites 7-OH-CBD, 11-OH-THC, and THC-COOH were not detected in any plasma samples. Inter-individual variance was notable. Salivation shortly after dosing was observed in two cats in the high dose group; these animals had substantially lower cannabinoid concentrations than other cats in this group. No adverse clinical signs (including vomiting, change in mentation or other neurological signs) were noted.</p></sec><sec id="sec4"><title>Clinical significance</title><p>Although cats did not display adverse effects after administration of a single oral dose of 1:20 THC:CBD CHE formulation at 2 or 5 mg CBD/kg bw, observed plasma concentrations were highly variable but generally lower than in dogs receiving the same dose and formulation. Administration of CHE in the fasting state may not optimize CBD absorption, and oral dosing may be challenging when administering an oil-based CHE in some cats.</p></sec>