Understanding Terpenes
by DAVID M. JOLLEY, J.D.
Ever wonder why some cannabis strains smell like lemons, while others smell like diesel fuel and yet others like a pine forest? The answer is terpenes. Terpenes are the chemical compounds found in cannabis and other plants that gives them their unique scent. They are also found in common household items, such as tea and spices. For cannabis, the sticky, translucent substance found on its buds is where its terpenes reside. Terpenes are also what plants use to protect themselves from predators, while also attracting insects for pollination at the same time. This article will briefly explain the known benefits of cannabis terpenes and how they interact with other cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant.
Common Terpenes and Known Benefits
Like their more well-known compounds (THC and CBD) terpenes have shown to have certain therapeutic properties, ranging from anti-anxiety to anti-inflammatory. While there are around 400 known terpenes in the cannabis plant, only a few have been linked to specific effects. Here is a list of common terpenes and their known benefits.
Beta-caryophyllene: Beneficial for managing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Also found in cloves, rosemary, and hops.
Beta-pinene: Smells like pine trees. Potential as both antidepressant and anti-cancer.
Humulene: Found in ginseng, known for energizing effects.
Limonene: One of the most commonly found terpenes that has distinct citrus aroma like lemons. May have potential anti-cancer and anti-anxiety properties.
Linalool: Smells like lavender and may help alleviate stress.
Myrcene: Also found in mangoes, has potential antifungal and antibacterial properties, in addition to sedating effects.
Different cannabis strains vary in the amount and type of terpenes they have. For example, Lemon Kush (as the name implies) is high in limonene; whereas Blue Dream is high in myrcene, and Sour Diesel is high in both myrcene and limonene, which creates both energizing and stress-relieving effects.
Entourage Effect
While the ratio of certain cannabinoids (such as THC or CBD) may be a good predictor for a particular strain’s benefits, experts believe and studies have shown that all the compounds that make up a cannabis plant, including its terpenes, interact with each other and produce a better effect than one particular compound or cannabinoid alone. This is what is referred to as the “entourage effect.”
A study in 2020 found that terpenes coupled with cannabinoids could have potential benefits for certain medical conditions, including anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.
In another study from 2021, researchers found that when used by themselves, terpenes often mimic the effects of cannabinoids, however, when combined with cannabinoids, the pain-relieving effects measured for the study were amplified without an increase in negative side effects.
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Just this year, scientists at the University of Colorado-Boulder partnered with Leafly to study the cannabinoid and terpene content of cannabis commonly being sold in dispensaries. Among the samples, which were all high in THC, researchers identified three distinct combinations of cannabinoids and terpenes. These were:
Chemotype I – This type was found to be high in the cannabinoid Caryophyllene and the terpene Limonene. These accounted for about 53% of the cannabis sampled. Strain names such as “Glue,” “Cookies,” and “Cakes” were among those high in this chemotype.
Chemotype II – This chemotype is very high in Myrcene and Pinene and accounted for about 34% of the samples. A popular example of a strain name in this chemotype is Blue Dream.
Chemotype III – This type was very high in Terpinolene, Myrcene and Ocimene. These samples accounted for 13% of the cannabis sampled. Interesting to note, samples labeled “Sativa” were over-represented in this group, which came from a small subset of “Sativa” strains—Lemon Haze, Jack Herer, and Dutch Treat.
Conclusions
Much like cannabis in general, there is still much we don’t understand about terpenes and the role they play in the plant’s medicinal properties. Similar to cannabinoids though, we been able to identify a few common terpenes found in the cannabis plant and what they can help with individually, as well as in conjunction with other cannabinoids to create a synergetic or “entourage” effect. Given there are far more terpenes and cannabinoids that have yet to be identified, there are probably many more potential benefits to be discovered as well, which is why further research in this area is warranted.
Read and learn more about cannabinoids here.
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