Terpinolene: Occurrence, Measurement, Research and Limits
Terpinolene is a fresh, piney terpene found in some cannabis and many herbs. See how it is measured, why studies disagree on where it is high, and what evidence exists.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
What terpinolene is
Terpinolene is a monoterpene found naturally in a variety of herbs and widely used as a flavoring agent. [1] PubChem lists its formula as C10H16 and its systematic name as 1-methyl-4-propan-2-ylidenecyclohexene. [2] It is a monocyclic monoterpene found in the essential oils of various fir and pine species. [3] This page is information only.Evidence labels used here: preclinical (cells/animals only), insufficient evidence, and marketing claim. "Proper evidence not found" is used where searches turned up nothing usable.
Where it occurs in cannabis
Terpinolene is not among the eight terpenoids a leading 2011 review of cannabis terpenes highlighted in its abstract. [4] Measured studies do report it:- A headspace gas chromatography study of 33 cannabis samples (20 THC-dominant, 13 CBD-dominant) named terpinolene among the eight main terpenoids. [5]
- A study of 21 cannabis varieties reported terpinolene as higher in THC-dominant than in CBD-dominant ones. [6]
These two studies point in different directions: the first listed a larger share of terpinolene for the CBD-dominant group, the second found more in the THC-dominant group. [5] [6] Differences in varieties, sample sets and methods can explain this, and it is one more reason a terpinolene value cannot be assigned to a cannabinoid type. No typical percentage is given here. Reviewers note concern about inconsistent terpene composition between cannabis "strains", [7] and ten plants of one strain grown together varied by about 20 percent in the main terpenes. [8] Only batch-specific laboratory data can show what a product holds.
How it is measured
Labs measure terpinolene with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. One method has a stated detection limit of 5 ppm, [5] and others quantify 20 or 42 terpenes. [8] [9] Terpene mixtures change when flower is turned into a CO2 extract, with monoterpenes lost in that comparison. [9] See Terpene Testing: How Profiles Are Measured and Reported and Cannabinoid and Terpene Testing Methods.What research shows
A systematic review found 57 studies of terpinolene's biological properties out of 2,449 articles screened. [1] It reported antioxidant, larvicide and insecticide activity as most prominent, and said in vivo efficacy and safety have been poorly evaluated in preclinical and clinical trials. [1]| Question | What was found | Evidence label |
|---|---|---|
| Nerve pain after chemotherapy | In mice, terpinolene reduced pain responses from paclitaxel nerve damage, with opioid and serotonin pathways implicated. [10] | Preclinical (cells/animals only) |
| Effects on human blood cells | In cultured human lymphocytes, concentrations above 100 mg/L reduced cell viability, with no genotoxicity seen at the amounts tested. [3] | Preclinical (cells/animals only) |
| Cannabis-linked effects | In cell tests of seven other cannabis terpenes, none changed THC's actions on TRPA1 or TRPV1 channels. [11] Terpinolene was not on that list. | Preclinical (cells/animals only) |
| Effects in people | Proper evidence not found. PubMed searches for terpinolene returned no human trial of terpinolene alone. | Insufficient evidence |
The claim that terpinolene-rich cannabis is "energizing", "uplifting" or "creative" is a marketing claim: no source read tests it. A 140-flower study found terpene profiles unrelated to estimated pharmacological effect. [12] See The Entourage Effect for why combining terpene and cannabinoid claims is not yet supported.
Safety and limits
- Food use. Terpinolene is widely used as a flavoring agent. [1]
- Cell studies. Reduced viability of human cells at high concentrations was seen in culture. [3] It is not a finding about people using cannabis.
- Human safety data. The systematic review states that the safety of administering the compound is poorly evaluated. [1] Pregnancy, children, older adults and people with chronic illness: Proper evidence not found.
- Heated inhalation. In a laboratory test, adding terpenes to THC raised gas-phase breakdown products from vaping and dabbing. [13] The test did not isolate terpinolene. See Smoking and Vaping Cannabis: Respiratory and Other Risks.
If a child or pet swallows a cannabis product, call US Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 in an emergency.
Quality and labeling
A laboratory paper noted that terpene profiling can help identify artificial adulteration, using an added flavor ester as an example. [5] A terpinolene entry on a certificate of analysis tells you about one batch only. See Added Terpenes vs Naturally Occurring Terpene Profiles and Terpenes in Cannabis.Frequently asked questions
Is terpinolene found in every cannabis product?
No. Studies report it in some samples and varieties, [5] [6] and amounts differ between studies and between samples. [7]
Is terpinolene stimulating?
Not shown. The systematic review found its pharmacology poorly evaluated, [1] and no human trial was found.
Does terpinolene have medical uses?
No approved use was found in the sources read. Mouse and cell studies exist, [10] [1] and the review says clinical trials are needed. [1]
Is terpinolene only in cannabis?
No. It occurs in herbs and in the essential oils of fir and pine species. [1] [3]