In a previous article, you were introduced to terpenesas a whole. Our goal now is to introduce them to you one by one. Let's focus on one of them: pinene .What is it, from a scientific point of view? What does it mean for the average consumer? Let's answer these questions below.
Pinene as seen by science
At first glance, this section might seem technical. Unfortunately, we can't make it any less technical. Why? Because pinene is a chemical compound. Therefore, it's difficult to avoid this aspect. With that clarified, let's get down to business.
Scientific presentation of pinene
Indeed, scientists describe pinene as a bicyclic monoterpene. A monoterpene is a terpene composed of two isoprene molecules (C5H8 ) with the basic formula (C5Hx ) 2 . Similarly, bicyclic refers to a molecule or compound with two fused rings .
Furthermore, science suggests that, beyond the hemp plant, pinene is also found in many other plants. These include mint, lavender, sage, ginger, rosemary, parsley, basil, yarrow, and rose. Similarly, turpentine oil (anoil obtained by purifying and then distilling turpentine) also contains it.
Note : Pinene has two isomers (α-pinene or alpha-pinene and β-pinene or beta-pinene).
The properties of pinene according to science
Indeed, scientists highlight two main properties of this terpene. Firstly, they believe it is an antiseptic. In other words, pinene is a substance that kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Secondly, they maintain that this terpene can also be prescribed in cases of bronchial hypersecretion (bronchial superinfections).
Pinene as seen by the average consumer
Earlier, we adopted the scientists' approach. From that perspective, we tried, as much as possible, to make it understandable. Now, let's take a new, much simpler approach that might interest consumers of products CBD.
The perfume
If you've read our article on terpenes, you know that they are, first and foremost, aromatic compounds. Therefore, one of the most important elements for the consumer remains the aroma. That being said, how can we describe the aroma of pinene ? Indeed, depending on the isomer you're dealing with, the scent varies. If you're looking at α-pinene (alpha-pinene), the aroma is similar to that of pine and rosemary. On the other hand, if you're looking at β-pinene (beta-pinene), the aroma is similar to that of hops or basil. With this information, you can detect pinene in CBD products.
The therapeutic benefits of pinene
Earlier, in the science section, we briefly discussed the properties of pinene. Let's continue along this path to discover other information that might interest consumers of CBD products.
Indeed, some research shows that this terpene may also have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and memory-enhancing properties.
- A study published in the Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2007 tested the antimicrobial capacity of the terpene. It concluded that the compound achieved "total elimination of the bacterial inoculum within a maximum exposure time of 24 hours."
- A study published in the Journal of Natural Products focuses on the anti-inflammatory properties of pinene. It suggests that the terpene may be effective in inhibiting inflammatory and catabolic pathways.
- A study published in Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry tested cognitive performance in mice. It found that pinene improved memory by 72.7%. Therefore, this terpene could be beneficial for Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.
- An in vivo and in vitro test highlighted by the Journal of Pharmacological Sciences shows that α-pinene could have antitumor properties.
Also check out our article on humulene terpenes
References
- https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pin%C3%A8ne
- https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%92-Pin%C3%A8ne
- https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoterp%C3%A8ne
- https://www.cibdol.fr/encyclopedie-du-cbd/qu-est-ce-que-le-pinene
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1271/bbb.50608
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25837931
Co-founder of CBD.fr
Julien Cordobes is the editor of CBD.fr. Born in 1978 in the Paris region, he first trained in e-commerce before turning to natural health approaches, a dual perspective that now structures his way of writing about cannabidiol: reading the scientific literature as it is, without hardening the conclusions, and presenting it in a language that everyone understands.
He discovered CBD at a time when the French market was developing faster than the information available to it. He acquired CBD.fr in 2022 and then took on editorial responsibility for the blog. Since then, he has published numerous articles covering the daily use of CBD, the interpretation of laboratory analyses, the evolution of the legal framework, and precautions for use.
