Terpene Tidbits is back! Sorry for the delay, but let’s not get carried away because Caryophyllene is what we will talk about today!
What is Caryophyllene?
Caryophyllene is different from any other terpene. What makes it so special you ask? Well let’s just say that unlike other terpenes caryophyllene interacts with your cannabinoid receptors and that can make for a great experience when consuming products high in caryophyllene.
Aroma and Flavor of Caryophyllene
Typically always a top 5 terpene even sometimes in the top 3, caryophyllene is known for a peppery spice scent. Also, the flavors that this terpene produces make it easy for your palate to identify. Lots of cultivars here in Ohio have caryophyllene in their profile. (I’ll be sure to include them at the end of this article.)
Background behind Caryophyllene
The history behind caryophyllene goes back to the early 1960s. The discovery of this terpene isn’t well known, but it was first isolated/synthesized by E.J. Brunke and A.M. Emberger. It was found to be a naturally occurring bicyclic sesquiterpene and is commonly found in many products we use today.
Molecular Structure
This is the first sesquiterpene we’ve talked about. What qualifies caryophyllene as a sesquiterpene are the isoprene units. Polyterpenes have many isoprene units followed by monoterpenes with 2 and sesquiterpenes have 3. Isoprene units are a part of the molecular structure of the terpene. The molecular structure also contains carbon and hydrogen atoms. Caryophyllene contains 15 carbon atoms and 24 hydrogen atoms. This can get pretty complicated, so for anyone wanting to learn more about terpene molecular structures check out this info.
Caryophyllene’s Biological role within plants.
Like most terpenes, caryophyllene is a natural insect repellent. The biological role is essential to making sure the plant is protected against insects, herbivores, as well as providing an extra defense to draw in herbivores in which predatory insects will eliminate them. An interesting tidbit I came across revealed to me that plants that are high in caryophyllene can actually influence the other plants nearby! Known as an Allelopathy this gives a competitive advantage to the plant producing caryophyllene! Another factoid that I learned is that caryophyllene can interact with the soil that it is being grown in. The composition of the soil can change and this can enhance the nutrient uptake. Truly an amazing terp!
Industry Uses
Just like every other terpene out there it is used in many of the same ways. Adding flavor and fragrance to foods, especially baked goods. Non alcoholic beverages, frozen dairy products, many types of condiments, as well as chewing gum! There are many things being discovered about caryophyllene and we could actually see bio-fuel that is easily reproduced because of its stability! Scientists have found an engineered strain of bacteria within E. Coli to produce caryophyllene through conversion of acetic acid in the organism with the end goal of bio-fuel mass production.
Potential uses in medicine
One of the major reasons many use cannabis today is the ability to help alleviate pain without the use of man made pills. With cultivars high in caryophyllene the potential for addiction treatment as well as chronic pain management. When it comes to addiction treatment it has shown much promise in helping addicts of heroin, meth, and alcohol. It has been shown to decrease voluntary alcohol intake and lower alcohol related place preference. When it comes to chronic pain management caryophyllene has been shown to relieve inflammation and chronic debilitating pain, especially involving neuropathic pain, without the development of tolerance, even after prolonged treatment!
Where to find Caryophyllene?
Finding caryophyllene within foods is extremely easy. One of the most popular ways to implement it into your diet is by adding black pepper to your food. Whether as a precooked seasoning on meats, vegetables, potatoes or just adding it to finished food for a little extra kick. There are many fruits and vegetables that have caryophyllene like apples, blueberries, raspberries, carrots, bell peppers, as well as spicy cayenne peppers.
Ohio Cultivars with High Caryophyllene
Here are some cultivars with high amounts of Caryophyllene currently within the state medical program and now available to Ohio adult-use consumers beginning in some dispensaries this week. Call your local dispensary for availability.
- Money MAKR (Jigglers x Bakers Dozen – Ascension Biomedical
- Backstage (Lemon Cherry Gelato x Après) – Klutch Cannabis
- Cookies n’ Chem (GSC x Starfighter x Stardawg) – Galenas
- LA Kush Cake (Wedding Cake x Kush Mints) – Meigs Co.
- Super Boof (Black Cherry Punch x Tropicanna Cookies) – Farkas Farms
Sources
Russ Hudson, The Big Book of Terps, Understanding Terpenes, Flavonoids, and Synergy in Cannabis”, Edited by Jacqueline Graddon, MBA, Pages 106 – 115
Khan, I., Kaur, S., Rishi, A. K., Boire, B., Aare, M., & Singh, M. (2024). Cannabidiol and Beta-Caryophyllene Combination Attenuates Diabetic Neuropathy by Inhibiting NLRP3 Inflammasome/NFκB through the AMPK/sirT3/Nrf2 Axis. Biomedicines, 12(7), 1442. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12071442
###
