Today, Tyler introduces the terpene terpinolene. As the science behind terpenes’ medicinal properties becomes more clear, learning how these compounds work in the body can offer new insights into your health.
Terpene Tidbits Returns: Terpinolene
It’s past time for Terpene Tidbits! Sorry for the delay. This series, we will be discussing terpinolene. This terpene is becoming more common in the cannabis realm, but is typically only found in small percentages. Since before the start of the medical program in Ohio, it was a rare terpene to come across, but thanks to the medical program we can now easily access this valuable terpene as I’ll note at the end of the article. Let’s start by learning exactly what terpinolene is and how to identify it!
What is Terpinolene?
Referred to as a “monoterpene”, terpinolene is considered a top ten terpene that is found in only about 10 to 12 percent of cannabis flowers or concentrates. Some common cultivars in which terpinolene is found in high amounts are Durban Poison, Train Wreck, Jack Herer, Golden Pineapple, as well as most Haze cultivars. You’ll notice terpinolene expressing aromas of pine, citrus, and sweet wood.
Terpinolene is found in cultivars that are mainly classified as a “sativa”. It can deliver uplifting effects that can provide a creative and cerebral high. Those patients with anxiety should be weary of this terpene when found in dominant amounts as this could induce a negative effect. It is commonly found paired with myrcene as well as beta-caryophyllene and found in other rarer combinations with ocimene as the secondary terpene (The rare Ghost train haze). When paired with myrcene or ocimene the effects will be less cerebral, always approach with caution.
Terpinolene’s Biological Role in Plants
An extremely interesting tidbit that I came across while researching: when terpinolene was the dominant terpene, it expressed antifungal properties that were very potent in fighting pathogenic fungi like powdery mildew and bud rot within growing cannabis. They can also have negative effects on the roots turning them a brownish color and can make your plants turn yellow. It was also discovered it has the ability to act as an antifeedant agent in plants, that can completely stop the feeding activity. This makes me think cultivars high in terpinolene may have a higher success rate of growth compared to those with no terpinolene present!
Industry Uses
Just like the other terpenes we have discussed and will discuss in future tidbit articles, terpinolene is used as a flavoring agent within foods like hard candy, baked goods, ice cream, and fruit ice concoctions. Also used in cleaning and personal care products, terpinolene is present in many forms of shampoo, aftershave, deodorants as well as fabric softeners, soaps, and furniture polish. Used in the manufacturing industry, terpinolene is used to make plastics and resins. It can be derived from limonene, which is another common terpene in the citrus family.
Implications for Human Health and Nutrition
In order to keep terpinolene in your diet without using cannabis it is important to regularly eat fruits such as apricots, black currants, blood oranges, grapefruit, passionfruit, raspberries, or vegetables like bell peppers, cabbage, or even chickpeas. When cooking foods consider using spices like cumin, dill, nutmeg, or even in an herb based tea with valerian root or lemongrass.
Terpinolene can provide many medical benefits such as being anti-cancer when relating to leukemia, by helping inhibit cell proliferation and markedly reducing the expression of AKT cells by more than 95%. Even medicinal benefits relating to the H1N1 virus aka “Swine Flu”, when using an essential oil from tea trees that has terpinolene as the primary constituent. Terpinolene also has shown promising medical benefits such as helping block pain on certain conditions known as hyperalgesia.
Strains to Look for in Ohio with High Terpinolene Percentages
For cannabis users be on the lookout for these Ohio-grown cultivars that expressed high amounts of terpinolene:
- Vegas Sunset, Oberlin 43, Marguerite Madness, grown by Ascension Biomedical
- BlackJack or Granny Mac grown by Grow Ohio
- Raspberry Parfait or Schromulan by Buckeye Relief
Thank you once again for joining me on my journey learning about the wonderful world of terpenes! Next up is beta-Caryophyllne!
Sources
Russ Hudson, The Big Book of Terps, Understanding Terpenes, Flavonoids, and Synergy in Cannabis”, Edited by Jacqueline Graddon, MBA, Pages 195-202
Macedo, E.M.A, et al. Association of Terpinolene and Diclofenac Presents Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Synergistic Effects in a Model of Chronic Inflammation. Vol. 49, no. 7, 20 June 2016, https://doi.org/10.1590/1414-431×20165103. Accessed 20 May 2023.
Punja, Zamir K., et al. “Pathogens and Molds Affecting Production and Quality of Cannabis Sativa L.” Frontiers in Plant Science, vol. 10, 17 Oct. 2019, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.01120. Accessed 23 May 2021.
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