Nerolidol is among the long list of terpenes found in plants in general, and in cannabis in particular. That being said, we invite you to discover it in this article. More details below.
Nerolidol in brief
Let's begin by exploring this terpene in its entirety. In this regard, we propose to focus on the following aspects: the name and characteristics of nerolidol.
On the one hand, it should be noted that this terpene is also called peruviol. This is indeed what our source emphasizes when defining it:
Nerolidol , also known as peruviol , is a sesquiterpene alcohol found in many essential oils and plants. It is a major constituent of neroli, Brassavola nodosa , and Myrocarpus fastigiatus essential oils and is also found in ginger, lavender, Melaleuca , cultivated hemp ( Cannabis sativa L. ), and lemongrass.
As the previous quote states, this terpene belongs to the large family of sesquiterpenes. From this perspective, you might be wondering what this family is. To answer your question, let's turn to this other source:
Sesquiterpenes form a class of molecules in the terpene family, with the molecular formula C15H24 . Sesquiterpenoids are their numerous derivatives produced by synthesis or biological modification (typically oxidation or rearrangement). These molecules are commonly found in living organisms ( especially plants), where they are synthesized from farnesyl pyrophosphate and play various metabolic roles.
On the other hand, let's look at the unique characteristic of this terpene. In fact, it's not very different from that of others. Why? Because it relates to aroma. Nerolidol has a strong and pleasant scent. From this perspective, it gives the plants that contain it woody, floral, fruity, and earthy aromas. This is the case with the following: hemp/cannabis, lemongrass, eucalyptus, tea tree, ginger, etc.
Chemical and physical properties
Like any other terpene, this one has physicochemical characteristics that allow it to be identified. Let's look at them below.
The structure
In chemistry, it is represented by the following structure.
Identification
The following elements allow it to be identified.
- IUPAC name: 3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-1,6,10-triene-3-ol
- CAS No : 7212-44-4 3790-78-1 ( cis - racemic ) 40716-66-3( trans -racemic ) 142-50-7 (( S )-Znerolidol)
- No.: 100.027.816
- EC No .: 230-597-5
- No RTECS: JR4977000
- PubChem: 5284507
- Appearance: colorless to light yellow liquid
Chemical properties
They are as follows.
- Chemical formula : C15H26O
- Molar mass: 222.3663 ± 0.0141 g/mol C 81.02%, H 11.79%, O 7.2%
Physical properties
They are as follows.
- Boiling point: 145–146 °C at 16 hPa, 114 °C at 1 mmHg
- Density: 0.88 g·cm⁻³ 0.875 g·cm⁻³ at 25 °C
Optical properties
Indeed, here we are referring to the following refractive index: 
Use of nerolidol
Indeed, after this brief introduction to the terpene, it would be worthwhile to examine its uses. This includes its areas of application and its effects. That said, we have identified three major sectors that utilize this terpene.
First, the cosmetics industry. Why? Because its unique scent is used in the manufacture of shampoos, perfumes, and many cleaning products. It's said that this industry uses between 10 and 100 tons of this terpene every year.
Next, the food industry. Indeed, this was already obvious, at least to those with some knowledge of the field. This terpene is also used in food products. From this perspective, nerolidol is a safe food flavoring agent; it acts as a flavor enhancer.
Finally, the pharmaceutical industry. This is becoming increasingly obvious! Whenever cannabis is mentioned, the discussion inevitably turns to the medicinal potential of the substance in question. Our terpene is no exception to this trend; it is believed to be responsible for a number of effects. These are listed below.
- Neuroprotective (An animal study* discusses this)
- Anti-inflammatory (This research** published in the journal Clinical Pharmacology mentions it)
- Anti-ulcer drugs (This 2014 study*** discusses them)
- Antioxidant (Cellular studies**** focus on this effect)
- Antitumor (A study***** published in the journal Carcinogenesis focused on this topic)
- Antinociceptor (This research****** published in the journal Clinical Pharmacology is part of this trend)
To refine this content, let us point out that this terpene, nerolidol, is naturally present in CBD flowers.
Also read about CBD.
- Linalool
- Terpinolene
- Limonene
- Terpenes
References:
- *link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11064-013-1092-2
- **onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/fcp.12166
- ***degruyter.com/view/j/znc.2007.62.issue-7-8/znc-2007-7-812/znc-2007-7-812.xml
- ****researchgate.net/publication/301715588_Nerolidol_A_Sesquiterpene_Alcohol_with_Multi-Faceted_Pharmacological_and_Biological_Activities
- *****ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1988176
- ******onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/fcp.12166
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.
