Terpene of the Month: Humulene | AusCannaReviews
This month we’re taking a closer look at the terpene Humulene.
Once called Alpha-Caryophyllene, Humulene earned its name because it’s found in high amounts in the Humulus lupulus plant family, commonly called hops. (Humulene and Beta-Caryophyllene share the same number of carbon and hydrogen atoms but their molecular structures differ, hence the name change.) Humulene is also found in basil, ginger, ginseng, cloves, and black pepper.
Cordia verbenacea (Boraginacea) a bush high in Humulene which is scattered around the coastal regions of Brazil has been used for hundreds of years in Brazilian folk medicine for its anti-inflammatory and healing properties in the form of alcoholic extracts, decoctions and infusions. A study published in the August 2007 edition of the European Journal of Pharmacology evaluated the anti-inflammatory properties of Humulene via oral treatment of Cordia verbenacea in mice and rats. The study found Humulene was capable of reducing mouse paw oedema caused by histamine injection. Meaning Humulene could be an important tool for the management and/or treatment of inflammatory diseases.
In 2010, a study published in the Canadian Journal of Microbiology assessed the antibacterial properties of Humulene against Bacteroides fragilis. This bacterium is typically part of the normal microbiota in the human colon but can become infectious if it enters the bloodstream or surrounding tissues due to surgery, illness, or injury. The study demonstrated that using Humulene as a treatment for Bacteroides fragilis led to both the inhibition of biofilm formation and a decreased risk of antibiotic resistance.
Ginseng is a medicinal plant that has been widely used for the treatment of various conditions in East Asian folk medicine for more than 2,000 years. In traditional Chinese medicine, ginseng is used to improve memory. In 1990, a research study featured in the Chinese Medical Journal demonstrated that ginseng could enhance cognitive function in rats and mice, even when impaired by various procedures and during different stages of learning and memory.
Humulene plays a role in the entourage effect by collaborating with cannabinoids such as Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) to potentially reduce appetite by acting as an anorectic. Although there is some anecdotal evidence suggesting that this could lead to decreased food intake and potential weight loss, concrete scientific evidence is currently lacking.
If you’re looking for medicinal cultivars on the Australian market that are high in Humulene**…
Wildflower’s Wild Flower Banksia T27 (Total Humulene 0.41%)
Motherplant’s MRZ (Total Humulene 0.33%)
Cannatrek’s T25 Topaz Flower (Total Humulene 0.32%)
Medibis’s Maleny THC25 LSO (Total Humulene 0.295%)
SatiVite’s Okanagan 19 (Total Humulene 0.27%)
Cannatrek’s T23 Avalon Flower (Total Humulene 0.25%)
Medical Cannabis Australia’s (MCA) NOVA T28 (Total Humulene 0.23%)
Endoca Australia’s Lemon Cloves (Total Humulene 0.21%)
Chemovar’s Royal Gorilla 22% (Total Humulene 0.208%)
Oz Medicann Group’s (OMG) COS THC 26 (Total Humulene 0.197%)
**This data was provided by Catalyst by honahlee. The honahlee team requires all product suppliers to verify their terpene percentages beyond the suppliers’ brochure or health professional marketing claims via a Certificate of Analysis (COA) with measured terpene value for the products to be searchable.
This substack aims to provide anecdotal information from my personal experiences in hopes it will lead to meaningful conversations between my readers and their healthcare professionals about medicinal cannabis.
I have no formal training in medicine or science. This article does not constitute medical advice.