Table of Contents
Client Notes
I have articles being done for all Terpenoids including
Myrcene, Pinene, Camphene, Terpineol, Carene, Humulene, Limonene, Caryophyllene, Phellandrene, Geraniol, Terpinolene, Valencene, Pulegone, Linalool, Bisabolol, and Sabinene
These can be added under the explore link, Terpenes A-Z, and will help the site rank for specific Terpene profiles. I’m going to need at least editor access to the site to configure the internal and external links, Alt tags, H1 Tags, Description, and Mark-Up Tags.
Terpene Myrcene
Myrcene, or β-myrcene, is an unsaturated natural organic hydrocarbon. It is more accurately categorized as a monoterpene. Monoterpenes are dimers of isoprenoid ancestors, and myrcene is one of the most vital.
Myrcene (or β-myrcene) is a terpene that often exists in highly aromatic plants and herbs such as hops, bay laurel leaves, thyme, lemongrass, and basil. Myrcene is defined as having an earthy, fruity clove-like aroma, but can be very strong in higher concentrations, as in heavily sprung beers.
Whereas strains like Pure Kush, White Widow, and Himalayan Gold commonly display noticeable concentrations of myrcene, these terpene levels can vary and increase from plant to plant.
Myrcene is vital in the formation of other terpenes, and it combines the antibiotic potential of other terpenes. One reason why myrcene could be so typically found in cannabis is that it has been shown to transform the permeability of cell membranes to allow more captivation of cannabinoids by the brain. This result of myrcene has been known since the 1970s and long ago laid a rumor that eating a ripe mango before smoking would get you high.
Conferring to recent information issued by Steep Hill Labs, a foremost cannabis testing laboratory in the Bay Area, for most people ingestion of fresh mango 45 minutes before inhaling marijuana will surge the effects of that cannabis. Rev. Dr. Kymron de Cesare of Steep Hill is a believer in what he calls “overlapping synergies” amongst myrcene and other terpenes with the several cannabinoids, such as how myrcene makes THC more active.
Terpenes arise from dehydration of terpineol geraniol, naturally. It could in principle be mined from any number of plants, for example, wild thyme, the leaves of which hold up to 40% by weight of myrcene. The existing route to commercial samples is by the pyrolysis (400 °C) of β-pinene, which is attained from turpentine.
It is currently being studied as a cure for diabetes, to obtain analgesic effect from myrcene- which possesses the ability as a pain relief without any external source such as pills, etc.- its use in sedative, non-anti-depressant, etc.
Myrcene is an important transitional utilized in the perfumery industry. It has a pleasant scent but is seldom used directly in terpenoids SEO. It is also unstable in the air. Samples are stabilized by adding alkylphenols or tocopherol. It is thus more valued as an intermediate for the groundwork of flavor and perfume chemicals such as menthol, citral, citronellol, citronellal, geraniol, neroli, and linalool. A combination of myrcene with hydrogen chloride produces geranyl chloride, aryl chloride, and linalyl chloride. The reaction of these compounds with acetic acid gives geranyl acetate, nerol acetate, and linalyl acetate, respectively.
Pinenes
Pinene is a bicyclic monoterpenoid. Just as it sounds, the chemical has the distinctive earthly aromas of pine and fir. Naturally, there are two structural isomers of pinene that can be found in nature: α-pinene and β-pinene. Both structural forms are very critical constituents of pine resin.
Of the two, α-pinene is the most frequently found terpenoid in nature. Pinene can also be found in many other conifers and is available in non-coniferous plants. Natural sources include balsamic resin, pine woods, and some citrus fruits. The two isomers of pinene are from the primary ingredients of wood turpentine.
As one of the principal monoterpenes, it is important physiologically in both plants and animals. Pinene can also be used to form a variety of terpenes. This can be achieved through a combination of other chemicals. The result is a range of other terpenes like limonene and other compounds.
Medicinal uses of Pinenes and uses in HHC Vape Disposable Pens.
In the field of medicine, Pinene has been used in medicine due to its anti-inflammatory properties and HHC bulk vape pens products. It is also used as an expectorant, bronchodilator, and local antiseptic. α-pinene, one of the major structural isomers is a natural compound isolated from pine needle oil. This compound has been known to have anti-cancer properties. Consequently, for many years it has been used as an anti-cancer agent, particularly in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
It has also been suggested that the adverse effects of THC may be reduced if mixed with pinene before it is administered.
What Is Pinenes?
Pinene, a bicyclic monoterpenoid occurs in two different varieties: Alfa and Beta-Pinene. It is an aromatic compound that can be found in a variety of plants including balsamic resin, pine woods, and some citrus fruits. The chemical compound gives distinctive earthy aromas of pine and fir, the kind of earthy smell you would expect in a pine forest. Pine trees, along with orange peels rosemary, and basil are some of the plants that contain the compound.
This compound is also found in marijuana plants – in fact; it is one of the primary active compounds. So much research has been carried out with the aim of understanding the properties of pinene, one of the most common terpenes, and its benefits.
Beneficial Effects of Pinenes
As mentioned earlier, Pinene is an aromatic chemical compound that gives distinctive earthy aromas of pine and fir, the kind of earthy smell you would expect in a pine forest. However, beyond its aromatic properties, it is also part of the terpenes studied as aromatic oils produced by plants.
These terpenes are usually employed to defend the plant as a defiance agent against natural predators. Beyond all these properties, it also has properties that are beneficial as far as humans are concerned. For marijuana users, this chemical compound has been found to have a variety of positive benefits. These positive benefits will be discussed below
Health Benefits of Pinenes
Pinene is a terpene, just like cannabinoids, that can create different effects on the marijuana user’s body. These effects altogether usually contribute to the properties of different strains – with each strain having its specific identity.
Of the known effects, Pinene is famous for its ability to help prevent any form of short-term memory loss that is attributed to the use of Tetrahydrocannabinol. Acting as an anti-inflammatory, Pinene enhances mental alertness as well as improves airflow to the respiratory organs.
Visibly, it is very efficient in reducing the adverse effects of THC. This means that marijuana users do not need to worry about feeling too high after the intake of strains containing high concentrations of Pinene.
Perhaps, the most significant effect of Pinene lies in its ability to reduce the size of cancerous tumors.
So how does Pinene work?
Pinene can achieve all of the above primarily because it can overcome the blood-brain barrier. Once it gets to the brain, it begins to act on neurotransmitters thereby enhancing short-term memory. As it works on neurotransmitters, it also helps to reduce the psychoactive effects of Tetrahydrocannabinol.
Intake of marijuana strains that have a high concentration of pinene by users will usually result in a high level of activity and alertness. As a bonus, note that these strains are also great for helping people suffering from asthma.
TERPINEOL
Terpineol is a compound name for any of the following chemicals: α-Terpineol, terpinene-4-ol, and 4-terpineol. These three are closely related to monoterpenoids. When you handle terpineol, the aroma will remind you of lilacs and flower blossoms. Terpineol is naturally found in cannabis varieties that have high concentrations of pinene. This pinene, unfortunately, overshadows the fragrant smells of terpineol.
Terpineol, α-terpineol to be precise, is proven to have calming and soothing effects on the user. It is known to possess antibiotic, ache inhibitor, antioxidant and antimalarial properties.
A Few Facts About Terpineol
Terpineol has many common uses. It is employed in the production of everyday bath products such as lotions, soaps, and creams. It is a naturally occurring chemical classified as alcohol with a distinct lilac odor. It is typically harvested from cajuput oil, pine oil, petitgrain oil, and cannabis. It also serves as one of the essential aroma components in the formulation of lapsang souchong tea. Smoke from the pine tree is used to dry this tea and produces terpineol at the same time.
Although it can be obtained naturally from several oils, it is also frequently manufactured industrially using alpha-pinene which is more readily available. Pinene is a thick, colorless hydration liquid that also has the distinctive lilac aroma of terpineol. It is a chemical that is soluble. This means it dissolves quickly in alcohol and also in a mixture of glycerol and water. Manufacturers use it as a stable base for other products including perfumes, makeup, and. cosmetics
Scientifically, terpineol is classified into a group of fragrant essential oils called terpenes. This group of essential oils can be extracted from the flowers of the cannabis plant. Following recent research proving their medical benefits, consumers, producers, and researchers are becoming more interested in these substances.
Terpineol refers to four monoterpene alcohol isomers that are present in combined forms in over one hundred and fifty plants. Amongst these plants is the cannabis plant. It is also frequently obtained from plants that contain high concentrations of pinene. However, because pinene has such a strong fragrance, it can often be difficult to isolate and identify the more delicate aroma of terpineol.
One major use of terpineol is in the process of adding fragrance. Due to its aromatic nature, it is a frequent addition to lotions, soaps, and perfumes. It is also responsible to a degree for the pine aroma of lapsang souchong tea. Terpineol boils at a very high temperature – 424 degrees Fahrenheit.
It is a naturally occurring chemical found in pine trees, cannabis, lilacs, eucalyptus sap, and lime blossoms. It is also renowned for its soothing properties that help to relax users. Research studies carried out on mice have indicated that its usage can decrease motility. As such, it is a chemical that has great medical potential. From all indications, it seems to be an effective treatment when used as an antibiotic, antitumor, antioxidant, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, and anxiolytic.
Terpineol is one of the three first terpenes found in cannabis. It is used to add aroma and flavoring to many different products.
Terpineol’s potential medical benefits include:
Antibiotic
Antioxidant
Anti-tumor
Sedative
Anti-inflammatory
Antimalarial
Anxiolytic
Caryophyllene
Caryophyllene, or Beta-caryophyllene, is a sesquiterpene that can be found in numerous plants including cinnamon leaves, Thai basils, cloves, and black pepper, and also in little quantities in lavender. It has an aroma that could be described as, woody and spicy/peppery. It is the only terpene proven to be able to interact with the endocannabinoid system (CB2). In fact, studies have shown that β–caryophyllene holds much promise in treating cancer. Recent research shows that β–caryophyllene selectively binds to the CB2 receptor. It also shows that it is a useful CB2 agonist. Furthermore, β–caryophyllene has been identified as a functional non-psychoactive CB2 receptor ligand in food items and as a macrocyclic anti-inflammatory cannabinoid in cannabis.
The Fine/Rosenfeld pain study has been able to demonstrate that the combination of other phytocannabinoids, especially cannabidiol and β-caryophyllene, administered by the oral route gives the impression that they are promising candidates for the treatment of chronic pain due to their soaring safety and low adverse result profiles.
If the findings of the Horváth et al are anything to go by, β-caryophyllene, through a CB2 receptor-dependent pathway, may be the excellent therapeutic agent needed to prevent nephrotoxicity (that is, the poisonous effect on the kidneys) brought about by anti-cancer chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin.
The Jeena, Liju et al study that researched the chemical structure of essential oil isolated from black pepper, of which caryophyllene is a major element, and examined its pharmacological properties has impressive results. In the study, black pepper oil was found to contain antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive properties. The result of this study suggests that high-caryophyllene strains may be beneficial in handling a number of medical conditions such as arthritis and neuropathy pain.
Beta-caryophyllene is used particularly in the production of chewing gum when commingled with other peppery mixtures or citrus flavors.
What Is Caryophyllene?
Caryophyllene is one of the many terpenes found in a range of essential oils found in plants including marijuana. Beta-caryophyllene, which could also be referred to as BCP is an active terpene that is found in a variety of plants including black pepper, oregano, cloves, and rosemary as stated before, marijuana. This compound is known to have a spicy smell similar to the odor we perceive from black peppers.
Over a long period of time, numerous research has been carried out to study beta-caryophyllene and its beneficial effects on users. Continue below to discover more about this important terpene and how beneficial it can be when used.
However, before we delve into more information about caryophyllene and its usefulness, it is important to take a moment to examine what terpenes really are. Terpenes are simply explained as the essential oils that are responsible for giving each strain of cannabis its characteristic aroma. What that means is that strains with high levels of beta-caryophyllene have a characteristic high spicy aroma. Terpenes are produced in trichomes. Trichomes are the secretory cells where cannabinoids are also manufactured. As you will learn as you read further in this article both cannabinoids and terpenes, including caryophyllene, work together to provide a variety of health and therapeutic benefits to marijuana users.
A brief history of Caryophyllene
The first time beta Caryophyllene was first artificially synthesized was in far back 1964. However, it was until 2008 that it was discovered to have cannabinoid properties. Since then, the compound has been in use in treating a variety of conditions including inflammatory diseases involving multiple sclerosis and arthritis. Other medical applications of the compound include the treatment of anxiety and depression as well as combating insomnia. The compound has also been used in curbing atherosclerosis and osteoporosis, as it has been discovered to help improve and strengthen bone mass.
How Does it Work?
Although it is a terpene, Caryophyllene is actually categorized as a cannabinoid in some quarters due to its effect on CB2 receptors. The compound, acting on CB2 receptors and ignoring CB1 receptors, usually aims at the endocannabinoid system in the body. After using the substance, the CB1 receptors are linked with the high marijuana users’ experience. The fact that this compound does not produce or cause one to be high and lose cognitive functions is great news. It means that users can actually use the compound without suffering the effects of becoming intoxicated.
On the other hand, there are quite a number of marijuana strains proven to possess high concentrations of Beta-Caryophyllene including OG Kush, Bubba Kush, and Hash plant among others.
Recent research findings indicate that the plant-based Beta-Caryophyllene is more effective in treating the conditions mentioned above when compared to injecting the synthetic variety. The fact that administration of the compound is possible without becoming intoxicated makes it a useful treatment alternative to many.
Introduction to Terpenes
The cannabis plant consists of a wide variety of chemicals and compounds. About 140 of these belong to a large class of aromatic organic hydrocarbons known as terpenes (pronounced tur-peens). You may have also heard people talk about terpenoids. The words terpene and terpenoid are increasingly used interchangeably, although these terms do have different meanings. The main difference between terpenes and terpenoids is that terpenes are hydrocarbons (meaning the only elements present are carbon and hydrogen); whereas terpenoids have been denatured by oxidation (drying and curing the flowers) or chemically modified.
Terpenes are synthesized in cannabis in secretory cells inside glandular trichomes, and production is increased with light exposure. These terpenes are mostly found in high concentrations in unfertilized female cannabis flowers prior to senescence (the condition or process of deterioration with age). The essential oil is extracted from the plant material by steam distillation or vaporization. Many terpenes vaporize around the same temperature as THC (which boils at about 157°C), but some terpenes are more volatile than others. Terpenes also play an incredibly important role by providing the plant with natural protection from bacteria and fungus, insects, and other environmental stresses.
It is well established that cannabis is capable of affecting the mind, emotions, and behavior. The main psychotropic cannabinoid, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol has been intensely studied. However, many of the other cannabinoids, terpenoids, and flavonoids found in medical marijuana that play a big role in boosting the therapeutic effect of cannabis remain understudied.
Terpenes are common constituents of flavorings and fragrances. Terpenes, unlike cannabinoids, are responsible for the aroma of cannabis. The FDA and other agencies have generally recognized terpenes as “safe.” Terpenes act on receptors and neurotransmitters; they are prone to combine with or dissolve in lipids or fats; they act as serotonin uptake inhibitors (similar to antidepressants like Prozac); they enhance norepinephrine activity (similar to tricyclic antidepressants like Elavil); they increase dopamine activity; and they augment GABA (the “downer” neurotransmitter that counters glutamate, the “upper”). However, more specific research is needed for improved accuracy in describing and predicting how terpenes in cannabis can be used medicinally to help treat specific ailments/health conditions.
Synergistic Effects
The Carlini et al study demonstrated that there may be potentiation (a form of synaptic plasticity that is known to be important for learning and memory) of the effects of Tetrahydrocannabinol by other substances present in cannabis. The double-blind study found that cannabis with equal or higher levels of CBN to Tetrahydrocannabinol induced effects two to four times greater than expected from Tetrahydrocannabinol content alone. The effects of smoking twice as much of a THC-only strain were no different than that of the placebo.
This suggestion was reinforced by a study done by Wilkinson et al to determine whether there is any advantage in using cannabis extracts compared with using isolated THC. A standardized cannabis extract of certain compound and CBN (SCE), another with pure Tetrahydrocannabinol, and also one with a Tetrahydrocannabinol-free extract (CBD) was tested on a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS) and a rat brain slice model of epilepsy.
Scientists found that SCE inhibited spasticity in the MS model to a comparable level of Tetrahydrocannabinol alone, and caused a more rapid onset of muscle relaxation and a reduction in the time to maximum effect than the Tetrahydrocannabinolalone. The compound caused no inhibition of spasticity. In a separate epilepsy model, SCE has a much more potent kick and again quicker-acting anti-convulsant than the isolated Tetrahydrocannabinol model; however, in this specific model, the Cannabinoid also exhibited anticonvulsant activity. Cannabinoids did not inhibit seizures, nor did they modulate the activity of Tetrahydrocannabinol in this model. Therefore, as far as some actions of the compound were concerned (e.g. anti-spasticity), Tetrahydrocannabinol was the active constituent, which might be modified by the presence of other components. However, for other effects (e.g. anticonvulsant properties) Tetrahydrocannabinol although active, might not be necessary for the observed effect. Above all, these results demonstrated that not all of the therapeutic actions of cannabis herb are due to the THC content.
Dr. Ethan Russo further supports this theory with scientific evidence by demonstrating that non-cannabinoid plant components such as terpenes serve as inhibitors to Tetrahydrocannabinol’s intoxicating effects, thereby increasing Tetrahydrocannabinol’s therapeutic index. This “phytocannabinoid-terpenoid synergy,” as Russo calls it, increases the potential of cannabis-based medicinal extracts to treat pain, inflammation, fungal and bacterial infections, depression, anxiety, addiction, epilepsy, and even cancer.
What are Flavonoids?
Flavonoids are one of the largest nutrient families known to scientists and include over 6,000 already-identified family members. About 20 of these compounds, including apigenin, quercetin, cannflavin A, and cannflavin B (so far unique to the plant), β-sitosterol, vitexin, isovitexin, kaempferol, luteolin, and orientin have been identified in the cannabis plant. Flavonoids are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory health benefits, as well as their contribution of vibrant color to many of the foods we eat (the blue in blueberries or the red in raspberries).
Some flavonoids extracted from the cannabis plant have been tested for pharmacological effects. The clinical findings are promising, but further research is needed to fully understand what role flavonoids play in the overall therapeutic effects of treatment, especially how they interact with cannabinoids by either synergistically enhancing them or reducing their effects.