We continue our exploration of terpenes. Several have already been presented. The ultimate goal of these successive presentations is to give you sufficient knowledge about the components of the hemp/cannabis plant. For this article, we invite you to discover humulene. What is it, scientifically speaking? What does it mean for consumers of CBD products? Let’s explore all of this further.Humulene as seen by scienceLet’s begin by introducing this terpene and describing its properties from a scientific perspective. Introduction to humulene Indeed, scientists also call it α-humulene or α-caryophyllene. They define it as a macrocyclic sesquiterpene with 11 carbon atoms and the molecular formula C15H24, composed of three isoprene units with three non-conjugated double bonds. Rest assured, you’re not the only ones who don’t understand this very technical definition. We had to rack our brains to try and figure it out. Having said that, we’re sharing our understanding with you. To do so, let’s first explain the complicated terms, one by one.
Sesquiterpene: refers to a molecule in the terpene family, with the molecular formula C15H24.
Macrocyclic: describes a molecule with large rings. Atom: the smallest part of a simple substance that can chemically combine with another. Isoprene: pentadiene molecules.
Conjugated: refers to atoms that are bonded.
Now, if we remove the qualifiers that are hindering our understanding, humulene would refer to a terpene composed of pentadiene molecules with three double bonds whose atoms are not bonded. So far, it still seems a bit unclear. Nevertheless, we can simply remember that humulene is a terpene composed of pentandiene molecules. That will suffice for us, laypeople in chemistry. The Properties of This Terpene Like many other terpenes, scientists believe that humulene has properties. Among these, they primarily highlight its anti-inflammatory properties. Indeed, according to them, it could be useful in combating inflammation. From this perspective, they explain that this terpene has effects similar to those of dexamethasone and reduces edema following histamine injection. Furthermore, they add that humulene has effects on tumors, particularly regarding the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNFα) and interleukin-1β.Humulene from the Consumer’s PerspectiveIn fact, we initially tried to adopt the scientific approach, although it proved complex. It is now time to take a perspective that will certainly interest consumers of CBD products. The Aromatic Interest of Humulene
- First of all, it’s important to know that humulene isn’t found only in the cannabis/hemp plant. In fact, hops also contain it. This explains why some people think they smell cannabis when they open a bottle of beer. The explanation is that the hop plant is often used to flavor beverages. Since both cannabis and hops contain this terpene, it’s normal to think you smell the aroma of cannabis when you have a product containing hops. For your information, both plants belong to the Cannabaceae family. So, it’s no coincidence that they share some components. Furthermore, research suggests that humulene may also be present in other plants such as pine, orange, Iva annua, tobacco, and sunflower. In this regard, besides providing aroma to these plants, it also protects them from insects.The Therapeutic Interest of HumuleneThis section follows on from the one presenting the properties above. In fact, according to some studies and research, this terpene has three main effects: Anti-inflammatory, Anti-tumor, and Antibacterial.Anti-inflammatory: A study published in the European Journal of Pharmacology highlights the anti-inflammatory properties of humulene. Indeed, the researchers who conducted this study discovered that this terpene is capable of reducing the number of inflammatory molecules. Furthermore, they add that the effects are even comparable to those produced by anti-inflammatory drugs. Along the same lines, other research published in the British Journal of Pharmacology supports this conclusion. In fact, it emphasizes that humulene has marked anti-inflammatory properties against airway inflammation when administered orally or as an aerosol. Anti-tumor: A study published in the journal Planta Medica in 2003 examined the anti-tumor effect of humulene. It suggested that humulene is a compound active against tumor cells, reducing cellular glutathione levels and increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Research published in Cancer Cell & Microenvironment supports this study, arguing that this terpene reduces tumor invasion, decreases metastasis, and induces apoptosis.
- Antibacterial: A research article published in Phytotherapy Research also explores this effect, stating that humulene may be effective against Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterial strain that causes skin infections. This last article deserves further research, as skin problems are becoming increasingly prevalent. On this subject, see also
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- References
- https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isopr%C3%A8ne https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atome
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macrocyclehttps://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sesquiterp%C3%A8ne https://www.cibdol.fr/encyclopedie-du-cbd/qu-est-ce-que-l-humulene
https://www.sciencedirect.com
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/
