Which strains of cannabis that are a good source of α-pinene is difficult to determine. Of all of the terpenes in cannabis, the investigators at the John Hopkins University Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit is only considering the entourage of α-pinene and THC in their observational clinical trial. This post will make a case for α-pineneContinue reading “alpha-pinene”
Author Archives: BL
Humulene
One of the first reports of a α-humulene comes from a company called Xenova in Slough Berkshire, UK. [1] Like many, they were looking for GABAA receptor modulators. “Recall that GABAA “receptors” are also chloride channels that, when open, lead to hyperpolarization and inhibition of neurotransmitter release. Benzodiazepines a class of modulators that increase theContinue reading “Humulene”
GABAA and PIP2
The purpose of this post is to explain some nuances of a publication suggesting that sesquiterpenes bind to the first transmembrane M1 domain of the α1 sub unit of GABAA. [1] The same group that provided the X-ray crystal structure for a neurosteroid binding site that Janzen et al used later published a paper showingContinue reading “GABAA and PIP2”
Guaiol
Sesquiterpenes are terpenes with the formula C15H24, hence the prefix “sesqui” Latin for 15. The featured study came out of Wuertzburg, Germany. These German authors extracted terpenes from hops and chamomile. [1] The extracts were subjected to a process to simulate digestion in the human gastrointestinal tract. β-Caryophyllene became β-caryophyllenol. Unlike many Asian studies reviewedContinue reading “Guaiol”
caryophyllene oxide
Caryophyllene oxide is produced when β-Caryophyllene is exposed to oxygen. The two structures of caryophyllene oxide come from ChEBI and PubChem. Folk medicine inspiration from the Brazilian Rain Forest Baccharis uncinella ,used by the Laklaño Indians, caught the attention of several groups in Brazil that included Laboratório de Etnofarmacologia. [1]. In their introduction the authorsContinue reading “caryophyllene oxide”
3-carene
The featured study comes primarily from the Korean Institute of Science and Technology. Woo et al tell us that 3-carene is a component of pine essential oil. [1] The American College of Healthcare Science lists 3-carene as a component of many pine family extracts that also includes products such as juniper berry essential oil. Askgrowers.comContinue reading “3-carene”
Borneol
(+)borneol is the GABAA receptor with preference for the alpha 2 subunit. This has implications as a terpene entourage of THC and the negative effects of THC on memor.
Bisabolol
This post reviews a study on the protective effects of (-) alpha bisabolol on rotenone brain damage in a rat model of Parkinson’s Diseae
Camphene
This post explores a Korean study of lipid lowering properties of camphene. Other references and images are brought in to explain the study to non experts.
geranyl acetate
Three related compounds Geranyl acetate and geraniol good medicines or benign food additives? It’s impossible to comment on the former in a manner that the FDA would approve. This post will compare a study showing that geranyl acetate and geraniol induce apoptosis in a cell culture model with rodent toxicology tests. The conclusion is ofContinue reading “geranyl acetate”
