Cannabis Terpenes: What They Are and How They Influence Effects

The unique musky, skunky, and pungent scent of cannabis is undeniable: Most people can detect it before they even perceive it. Terpenes, the fragrant substances that define the aroma of many flowers and herbs, impart cannabis with its distinctive fragrance and add to its taste.

Cannabis encompasses more than 150 varieties of terpenes. Although many terpenes exist in just trace quantities, the more prominent ones unite to provide various cannabis cultivars their signature fragrance profiles. The mixture of terpenes in Sour Diesel reveals its strong, gassy nature, whereas Cherry Pie reminisces the delightful aroma of sweet and sour cherry pie fresh from the oven.

Besides providing cannabis with its unique bouquet of aromas, terpenes also serve numerous roles in the plant and can lead to a spectrum of therapeutic and mood-altering impacts in cannabis users.experience the convenience of top-quality cannabis with our fast weed delivery toronto service!

Where do terpenes originate?

Terpenes play an essential role in a cannabis plant’s development and survival. Apart from producing unique aromas, these organic substances also enhance color and pigmentation in leaves and buds and contribute to the flavor of cannabis.

Certain terpenes like geraniol, for instance, repel insects or herbivores that might be inclined to snack on cannabis. These fragrant substances bolster the plant’s immune system by transmitting information about the surrounding environment, safeguarding plants from stressors and pathogens, and aiding in triggering immune responses.

A variety of factors can influence the quantity of terpenes a cannabis plant generates. Aspects such as whether the plant is cultivated outdoors or indoors, exposure to light, temperature, certain growing mediums, nutrient levels, and the timing of harvesting can all affect terpene concentrations.

Live resin is produced from fresh frozen cannabis plants and maintains cold temperatures throughout the extraction process to preserve terpenes and other volatile substances in the plant, resulting in a more aromatically complex and flavorful cannabis experience.

How do terpenes influence the body?

For instance, anyone who’s dabbed lavender oil—which contains linalool—behind their ears is aware that it can potentially assist in relaxing you. Similarly, terpenes in certain cannabis varieties can enhance its effects.

However, the impacts of terpenes seem to extend beyond feel-good advantages and stress alleviation. Terpenes have also been recognized as a new frontier in cannabis medicine. Until recently, the focus has been primarily on the therapeutic characteristics of cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, but as our comprehension of terpenes becomes more advanced, it’s clear that these fragrant substances are medicinal powerhouses too.

All terpenes feature unique combinations of therapeutic attributes. Unsurprisingly, some of the influences terpenes have on humans resemble their role in cannabis and other plants—like assisting to combat unwanted microbes and pathogens.

The medicinal advantages of terpenes

Preclinical examinations on animals and in vitro studies—in laboratory settings—have identified a range of therapeutic advantages associated with terpenes. It should be pointed out, however, that terpene research is in its early stages and has not been widely conducted on humans. More inquiries need to be made to solidify our understanding of these substances.

Antiviral 

Researchers constantly seek new antiviral substances. Many terpenes could demonstrate strong abilities to assist in destroying viruses, including alpha- and beta-pinene, caryophyllene, camphor, and carvone.

Anticancer 

Increasing rates in numerous forms of cancer are driving the search for substances that can assist in suppressing it. Some terpenes, including those found in cannabis, may exhibit anticancer properties, helping to inhibit the activity or proliferation of cancer cells.

One potential unique advantage of terpenes is that they may be less likely to affect healthy cells or cause adverse effects—an important consideration for cancer therapies.

Antidepressant

Twenty-five percent of antidepressant medications are formulated utilizing herbal extracts containing terpenes. Linalool and beta-pinene are prevalent among many plant extracts utilized in antidepressant treatments.

Antimicrobial

A wide variety of terpenes may exhibit antimicrobial activity, or the capacity to halt a harmful microorganism in its tracks. Terpenes that might assist in destroying or halting the progression of microorganisms include alpha-bisabolol, geraniol, menthol, eucalyptol, and terpinolene.

Pain relief

Researchers have discovered that certain cannabis terpenes may imitate cannabinoids by creating a pain-relieving effect. In one 2021 study that combined terpenes with cannabinoids, pain-relieving effects were enhanced without an increase in negative side effects. This interaction could suggest the entourage effect.

Terpenes that may encourage pain-relieving activity include humulene, geraniol, linalool, and β-pinene. Interestingly, the study above also found that these terpenes engage the body’s CB1 receptors, which form part of the endocannabinoid system and influence pain perception.

How can terpenes influence the outcomes of cannabis?

Emerging evidence indicates that all components present in cannabis work together synergistically—this is known as the entourage effect and can be considered as: The total of all components present in cannabis is greater when together than the sum of its individual elements. In other words, a unique whole-plant synergy occurs when cannabinoids and terpenes are consumed together, rather than individually.

For instance, terpenes seem to play a role in influencing the effects of THC and CBD in the body. In a 2018 review of individuals with epilepsy, those who took full-spectrum CBD extract—including cannabinoids and terpenes—experienced improved symptoms and fewer side effects than those who took CBD isolate, containing only cannabinoids. Full-spectrum cannabis extract is whole-plant medicine, inclusive of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other substances that are present in the plant.

The researchers also found that full-spectrum CBD extract was four times more potent than the CBD isolate, meaning patients could take a considerably lower dosage, attributing this to the therapeutic synergy of cannabinoids and other elements, such as terpenes.

More recent investigations have discovered that terpenes amplify cannabinoid activity, but high quantities of terpenes were necessary to observe this enhancement.

It’s crucial to recognize that much is still unexplained about terpenes and their interactions with other terpenes, cannabinoids, and flavonoids found in cannabis. Additionally, most of the research we possess is based on animal or laboratory models.

Regardless, increasing clinical attention toward these aromatic substances is yielding some intriguing findings. It’s probable that the forthcoming years will witness a more refined understanding of terpenes evolve and how they function both independently and synergistically.

The top three terpenes located in cannabis

As mentioned previously, there’s a remarkable variety of terpenes present in cannabis—over 150 distinct types, to be precise. While many of these arise in concentrations too low to identify, some have a more substantial presence.

Here’s the breakdown of three terpenes that are the most prevalent in cannabis.

Myrcene

Most cannabis varieties are dominant in either myrcene or caryophyllene. Myrcene, a terpene that’s also prevalent in hops and lemongrass, has been described as delivering aroma notes that are herbaceous, spicy, earthy, and musky. Myrcene imparts cannabis a lightly sweet flavor profile—it’s also found in mangoes.

In addition to contributing to the signature aroma of cannabis, myrcene can also provide anti-inflammatory effects. A 2015 study in cultured cells indicates that myrcene may effectively diminish inflammation associated with osteoarthritis.

The terpene also appeared to assist in preventing the breakdown of cartilage cells, slowing the progression of osteoarthritis, and reducing the generation of specific inflammatory cells produced by the body. Myrcene could potentially be utilized to help alleviate anti-inflammatory conditions and their symptoms in the future.

Caryophyllene

Caryophyllene, also known as beta-caryophyllene or β-caryophyllene, imparts a spicy, peppery bite to some cannabis strains. Caryophyllene is also found in other plants such as cloves, rosemary, oregano, and black pepper. If you detect any of these aromas when you smell a certain cannabis variety, it’s likely because caryophyllene is present.

Caryophyllene is the only known terpene found in cannabis that can attach to the CB2 receptor in the endocannabinoid system, which is located in the body’s immune system. Owing to this distinctive action, caryophyllene is sometimes also categorized as an unusual cannabinoid.

Research into the therapeutic effects of caryophyllene indicates that it has potential in alleviating symptoms in various conditions such as colitis, diabetes, cerebral ischemia, anxiety and depression, liver fibrosis, and Alzheimer-like diseases.

Future inquiries propose that caryophyllene’s activity at the CB2 receptor could be employed to assist in treating conditions that are accompanied by inflammatory symptoms.

Limonene

Clean, fresh, uplifting citrus scents—limonene’s name indicates the aromas associated with this terpene. Limonene is found in the peels of citrus fruits and ginger, and the terpene is also dominant in numerous cannabis cultivars that have a fruity, fresh aroma, like Papaya Punch or Black Cherry Soda.

Limonene seems to modify the behavior of certain immune cells in the body, which may shield the body from a variety of disorders. In one study, limonene assisted in augmenting the production of antibody-generating cells in the spleen and bone marrow, which are utilized by the immune system to recognize and neutralize pathogenic bacteria and viruses.

Researchers have also recently proposed that the unique therapeutic profile of limonene could be beneficial in treatments for Covid-19.