That crystalline shimmer in your honey, the delicious strawberry power smoothie for breakfast, and the aromatic quality of cannabis strain all stem from naturally-occurring organic compounds called terpenes.
These molecules possess anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, antiviral, antifungal and antioxidant properties as well as numerous nutraceutical advantages including bronchodilatory and analgesic properties.
How Cannabis Terpenes Interact With Food Flavors
Terpenes play an integral part in providing cannabis plants with their distinctive fragrance, flavor and color profiles. Furthermore, these essential compounds may offer medicinal effects like anti-inflammatory, analgesic and mood elevating properties; one such terpene found in lavender (linalool) has even been shown to be effective at alleviating anxiety symptoms.
Terpenes have long been used in aromatherapy and culinary industries. Additionally, they’re found in cleaning products and natural pesticides; and are even used to add flavor to food and beverages – such as adding limonene to citrus fruits or cannabis for instance.
As well as offering therapeutic properties, terpenes have also become increasingly integrated into the cannabis industry. One such terpene – beta-caryophyllene – can be found in spices and herbs like oregano, basil, rosemary, cloves and lavender; additionally it’s one of the primary components that gives black pepper its spicy peppery aroma and taste.
Researchers have paid considerable attention to phytocannabinoids; however, the potential synergy between terpenes and cannabinoids has gone largely unreported due to being studied independently of each other rather than together.
How Cannabis Terpenes Interact With Cannabinoids
Cannabis terpenes work synergistically with cannabinoids to produce therapeutic effects. While certain terpenes produce unique aromas and flavors, others may offer anti-inflammatory benefits, promote sleepiness or increase appetite. Research has also indicated that certain terpenes may help alleviate pain through interaction with the endocannabinoid system, mimicking cannabinoid’s effects.
Terpenes can create what’s known as the entourage effect when combined with cannabinoids, meaning their combined effects exceed that of any single component of a cannabis plant – cannabinoids, terpenes and minor cannabinoids alike. Linalool from lavender provides antianxiety properties which enhance CBD’s soothing therapeutic benefits for an overall more effective therapeutic experience.
Terpenes can also improve the efficacy of phytocannabinoids by modulating their receptor activity, an essential step since studies have often demonstrated that phytocannabinoids like THC do not effectively alleviate chronic pain relief without burdensome psychoactive side effects. By augmenting phytocannabinoids’ therapeutic potential through interactions with terpenes, researchers may develop more effective and safer treatments for multiple conditions.
How Cannabis Terpenes Interact With Other Chemicals
Cannabis terpenes indole, limonene, pinene and -caryophyllene have demonstrated antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects; Humulene reduces asthma inflammation while A-Pinene stimulates mental alertness according to research published in Frontiers in Pharmacology. Furthermore, other terpenes such as Borneol and Caryophyllene work synergistically with curcumin and Baicalein to induce Apoptosis of human Melanoma cells.
While much research focuses on individual terpenes’ health benefits, little is understood regarding their interactions. Linalool from lavender is well-known for its antianxiety effects while a-pinene from rosemary may provide soothing and stimulating qualities. If researchers were able to gain an understanding of how various terpenes work with THC phytocannabinoids such as THC together, pain-relief treatments that require lower doses with minimal side effects might become available.
Terpenes can be found in sticky glands called trichomes found on cannabis flowers, leaves and stems and roots; their extract is collected using solvent-based or solvent-less extraction techniques; however, their fate during processing remains a mystery; many consumers opt to make their own cannabis-infused products by purchasing raw flowers at dispensaries and then creating oil from scratch themselves in order to experiment with various terpene profiles until finding one they find most appealing.
How Cannabis Terpenes Interact With Foods
Though cannabis has gained much attention for its psychoactive and pharmacological properties, including THC and CBD, cannabis is actually a complex biosynthetic plant producing hundreds of phytochemicals; among these are terpenes which have proven useful against both infectious and chronic illnesses.
Terpenes found in cannabis plants are aromatic isoprenoids known as terpenes that produce various physiological and behavioral effects. Most studies on terpenes have examined their aromatic characteristics as well as potential health benefits like anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant and antitumor activities.
However, there has been increasing research interest in how these molecules act as synergistic or entourage compounds to cannabinoids and their effects. This is particularly the case for minor terpenes (those present at lower concentration in cannabis plants by mass) which possess unique therapeutic profiles and have demonstrated bioactivities either independently or when combined with cannabinoids.
Linalool, found in lavender, can provide antianxiety effects; while rosemary contains a-pinene which boosts mental alertness. Unfortunately not all terpenes are safe to consume as some have been linked with allergies such as skin or inhalation sensitivities. Therefore many individuals opt to make their own cannabis oil using fresh, whole flowers from a dispensary in order to replicate as close an experience as possible in terms of terpene ratios.