Terpene explorer

What labs actually measure in flower. Lab data: Smith et al. 2022 (CC0) and 2014–2026 state testing records. Most effect claims about terpenes are untested in people at the doses in smoked flower. We grade each one.

Reference

β-Caryophyllene

Dominant terpene in 643 strains · typical level when dominant 0.51% of flower weight

Aroma: woody-spicy, dry, clove-like (JECFA), fried, spice, wood (FEMA flavor profile)

Also found in: black pepper (Piper nigrum), clove (Syzygium aromaticum), hops (Humulus lupulus), rosemary, basil, oregano, cannabis (Cannabis sativa)

Boiling point: 256 °C (760 mmHg)

Reported effects and how strong the evidence is

  • preclinicalSelective CB2 receptor binding (Ki ≈155 nM) and functional CB2 agonism; oral 5 mg/kg reduced carrageenan inflammation in wild-type but not CB2-knockout mice (in vitro)
  • contestedNo CB2 activation in AtT20 cells (Santiago 2019) and only weak (~25%) CB2 radioligand displacement with no meaningful signalling (Finlay 2020) — conflicts with Gertsch 2008 (in vitro)
  • preclinicalAnxiolytic- and antidepressant-like behaviour in mice at 50 mg/kg, blocked by CB2 antagonist AM630 (animal)
  • preclinicalAnti-inflammatory effects in rodent paw-oedema models after oral dosing (animal)
  • preclinicalNo effect on TRPA1/TRPV1 or on THC/endocannabinoid responses at those channels (in vitro)

Not supported: 'The only terpene that is a cannabinoid' / acts like a cannabinoid in people — CB2 agonism is an in-vitro/mouse finding, contested by two later receptor studies, and untested in humans; High-caryophyllene strains relieve pain or anxiety — no human study; Sub-200 °C 'vaporization' or boiling figures for caryophyllene in cannabis temperature charts — the normal boiling point is ~256–259 °C; ~130 °C is the 14 mmHg value

Highest-testing strains (≥10 lab tests)

  1. 1Apple Smack2.17%n=10
  2. 2Caramel Cream1.56%n=41
  3. 3Funky Charms1.38%n=31
  4. 4Milk Monkey1.29%n=29
  5. 5Prism1.25%n=99
  6. 6Double Solo Burger1.24%n=76
  7. 7Hazmat1.21%n=19
  8. 8Dia De Los Muertos1.20%n=63
  9. 9Purple1.19%n=49
  10. 10Triangle Mint1.18%n=24
  11. 11OG Cookies1.13%n=13
  12. 12Cherry Do-Si-Dos1.13%n=34
All β-Caryophyllene-forward strains