Terpene of the Month: Pinene | AusCannaReviews
This month we’re taking a deep dive into the terpene Pinene. One of the most abundant terpenes in nature, Pinene is broken down into two types Alpha Pinene and Beta Pinene. Alpha Pinene is water-soluble and associated with pine needles and rosemary aromas. Beta Pinene is not water-soluble and is earthy and fresh in scent and more closely associated with the aromas of parsley and basil.
Pinene is typically responsible for the clear-headed, invigorating “Sativa” effects.
Pinene has anti-anxiety properties. In Japan, they practice something called shinrin-yoku or forest bathing, which essentially is basking in the atmosphere of the forest. A study done at Chiba University in Japan found that people who spent 40 minutes walking in a cedar forest had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol than those who spent 40 minutes walking in a lab.
However, be cautious there’s an urban legend that says when Limonene is paired with a heavy amount of Pinene it can actually increase anxiety. The belief is that both of these terpenes have a bit of a racey feeling to them and when paired together they can cause an increase in your heart rate which could trigger some paranoia. (I say “urban legend” because I couldn’t find any scientific evidence to back that up.)
A study published in the journal Inhalation Toxicology in 2002 showed the effectiveness of Pinene as a bronchodilator, meaning it opens airways when inhaled in small amounts. This makes Pinene something that could potentially be used to treat patients with asthma and other lung conditions.
Ethan Russo M.D. a neurologist and medical researcher who published a landmark study in the British Journal of Pharmacology about the Entourage Effect in 2011 noted the anti-inflammatory properties of Pinene and its potential efficacy for inflammation-based patients, including those suffering from arthritis, cancer, and Crohn’s.
In this same study, Russo presented evidence that Pinene may help combat short-term memory impairment associated with THC. Russo said, “Perhaps the most compelling thing about Pinene, is its activity as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor aiding memory.” What does that mean? Low levels of acetylcholine, which is an enzyme, are associated with memory issues and muscle disorders. When you have something that is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor it means you’re decreasing the breakdown of acetylcholine, meaning Pinene could possibly be used as a treatment for Alzheimer's and dementia symptoms.
If you’re looking for medicinal cultivars on the Australian market that are high in Pinene… (Information comes from COA listed on honahlee.)
RAP Med’s Green Gelato (Total Pinene 1.15%)
SatiVite’s Kannbi (Total Pinene 0.56%)
Heyday Medical’s Heyday Dusk Flower (Total Pinene 0.53%)
Endoca Australia’s Apples and Banana (Total Pinene 0.48%)
Alfie Therapeutics’s MAC1 (Total Pinene 0.44%)
Nectartek’s Sola 20 (Total Pinene 0.39%)
Heyday Medical’s Heyday Day Flower (Total Pinene 0.33%)
Chemovar’s Premo OG Kush (Total Pinene 0.30%)
Cannatrek’s T24 Panama Flower (Total Pinene 0.21%)
Kind Medical’s Coco 23:1 (Total Pinene 0.20%)
Just a heads up… This weekend I’m going to the United in Compassion 2023 - Australian Medicinal Cannabis Symposium in Brisbane. If you would like to follow along for the weekend I’ll be posting stories on my Instagram. If not that’s ok too as I will be doing my first supplemental post about the symposium that will hit your mailbox on Thursday, August 17, 2023.