Terpinolene
Identity
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Preferred name | Terpinolene |
| IUPAC name | 1-methyl-4-propan-2-ylidenecyclohexene |
| CAS number | 586-62-9 |
| PubChem CID | 11463 [^4] |
| Chemical family | Monocyclic Monoterpene |
| Molecular formula | C10H16 |
| Molecular mass | 136.23 g/mol |
| Stereochemistry | No chiral centers |
Aroma and sensory character
Complex scent carrying herbal, citrus, pine, and floral undertones.
Occurrence outside cannabis
- Apples (Malus domestica)
- Cumin (Cuminum cyminum)
- Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
- Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Physical properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Standard boiling point | 185 °C |
| Reference pressure | 101.325 kPa |
| Data source | NIST Chemistry WebBook (SRD 69); mean of 7 determinations [^1] |
Thermal-extraction context
Reported biological activity
Human evidence
Isolated human trials are currently lacking.
Animal or laboratory evidence
In cultured primary rat neurons and N2a neuroblastoma cells, terpinolene increased total antioxidant capacity at 10–50 mg/L and reduced cell proliferation at 50–200 mg/L — concentrations well above plausible cannabis inhalation exposure 1. In mice, inhaled terpinolene reduced locomotor activity in an open-field test, an effect attributed to nasal absorption of the compound 2.
Traditional or anecdotal claims
Frequently noted by consumers in connection with distinct sensory profiles.
Cannabis laboratory results
Highly variable: up to 30.5 mg/g (≈3% dry weight) in one of nine Italian hemp cultivars, with a 0.18–30.5 mg/g range across the set (GC-MS of hydrodistilled essential oil); dominant only in some chemotypes 3. Check Lab Results for records.
Sources
Related pages
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Aydin E, Türkez H, Taşdemir Ş. Anticancer and antioxidant properties of terpinolene in rat brain cells. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol. 2013;64(3):415–424. doi:10.2478/10004-1254-64-2013-2365. PMID 24084350. ↩
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Ito K, Ito M. The sedative effect of inhaled terpinolene in mice and its structure-activity relationships. J Nat Med. 2013;67(4):833–837. PMID 23339024. ↩
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Mazzara E, et al. A Comprehensive Phytochemical Analysis of Terpenes, Polyphenols and Cannabinoids, and Micromorphological Characterization of 9 Commercial Varieties of Cannabis sativa L. Plants. 2022;11(7):891. doi:10.3390/plants11070891. ↩
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