D-Limonene
Identity
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Preferred name | D-Limonene |
| IUPAC name | (4R)-1-methyl-4-(prop-1-en-2-yl)cyclohexene |
| CAS number | 5989-27-5 |
| PubChem CID | 440917 [^4] |
| Chemical family | Cyclic Monoterpene |
| Molecular formula | C10H16 |
| Molecular mass | 136.23 g/mol |
| Stereochemistry | The (4R)-(+)-enantiomer (D-limonene) is the citrus form; (S)-(−)-limonene (L-limonene, CAS 5989-54-8) is a distinct identity kept separate |
Aroma and sensory character
Bright citrus, lemon, orange peel, and fresh terpene notes.
Occurrence outside cannabis
- Orange peel (Citrus sinensis)
- Lemon rind (Citrus limon)
- Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi)
- Juniper (Juniperus communis)
Physical properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Standard boiling point | 176 °C |
| Reference pressure | 101.325 kPa |
| Data source | NIST Chemistry WebBook (SRD 69); mean of 18 determinations [^1] |
Thermal-extraction context
Pure limonene liquid exerts significant vapor pressure well below 176 °C.
Reported biological activity
Human evidence
A double-blind randomized trial found that vaporized d-limonene reduced the acute anxiogenic effects of inhaled Δ9-THC in healthy adults who intermittently use cannabis [^2]. A standalone mood-lifting or anxiolytic effect of d-limonene alone (independent of cannabis) is not established by that trial [^3].
Animal or laboratory evidence
A peer-reviewed review of limonene pharmacology summarizes gastroprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity in animal and cell models, predominantly via oral or injected dosing 1.
Traditional or anecdotal claims
Commonly associated with uplifting citrus aromatherapy traditions.
Cannabis laboratory results
Among the most abundant monoterpenes in cannabis flower: measured at 525–2,644 µg/g dry weight across five Canadian cultivars (GC-MS) 2, and the vaporized-limonene trial’s source flower was analyzed for limonene content 3. Refer to batch COAs in Lab Results for detected limonene concentrations.
Sources
Related pages
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Sanshita, Devi N, Bhattacharya B, Sharma A, Singh I, Kumar P, Huanbutta K, Sangnim T. From Citrus to clinic: limonene’s journey through preclinical research, clinical trials, and formulation innovations. Int J Nanomedicine. 2025;20:4433–4460. doi:10.2147/IJN.S514247. (Peer-reviewed review.) A standalone d-limonene mood/anxiolytic effect independent of cannabis remains without a located primary source in this archive. ↩
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Booth JK, Yuen MMS, Jancsik S, Madilao LL, Page JE, Bohlmann J. Terpene synthases and terpene variation in Cannabis sativa. Plant Physiol. 2020;184(1):130–147. doi:10.1104/pp.20.00593. PMID 32591428. ↩
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Spindle TR, Zamarripa CA, Russo E, et al. Vaporized D-limonene selectively mitigates the acute anxiogenic effects of Δ9-THC in healthy adults who intermittently use cannabis. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2024;257:111267. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111267. PMID 38498958. ↩
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