Picture yourself in a rose garden sipping a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice. That’s what geraniol brings to the cannabis experience. It also lends pleasing floral notes to perfumes, enhances the flavors of foods, candies and beer, keeps biting insects at bay and is a popular ingredient in natural deodorants.
In addition to its pleasant redolence, geraniol is one of nature’s more potent natural medicines.
What Is Geraniol?
Geraniol is a terpene – a class of aromatic organic compounds produced by plants. Terpenes are responsible for the sweet fragrance of flowers, the fresh redolence of pine, the relaxing aromas of lavender, and the tangy zest of citrus fruits. Some lure pollinating insects, while others repel pests and provide fungal protection. Cannabis is particularly rich in terpenes, with various strains containing up to 150 known organic terpenoid compounds. Marijuana consumers know terpenes for their contributions to a strain’s scent and flavor profile.
Geraniol is never the dominant terpene in marijuana. It is found in trace to minor amounts in hundreds of strains, and in greater amounts in a lesser number of cultivars. It influences the aroma of many popular strains, lending a sweet freshness to the scent profile, with notes similar to rose, citronella, and citrus fruits.
Chemists classify geraniol is a monoterpene, which is the chemically simplest form of terpene. This relatively simplistic molecular structure allows geraniol to interact with and bond to a wide range of organic compounds, including many of the other terpenes found in marijuana. Though not as well-known to cannabis users as more prominent terpenes such as pinene, myrcene, linalool, and caryophyllene, geraniol is one of the most-studied terpenes.
A review of literature published in 2022 noted that a total of 3,068 research papers devoted to geraniol were published between 2010–2021. A common conclusion for many of these studies was that geraniol appeared to work synergistically with other terpenes to enhance their therapeutic activities. Geraniol has also demonstrated the ability to influence cellular pathways of the human body involved in the regulation of metabolic functions.
Because it is highly bioactive and easily absorbed by the human body, geraniol can provide therapeutic benefits when administered in the form of essential oils, extracts, and aerosols. This broad medicinal potential was the subject of a review of literature titled “One Hundred Faces of Geraniol” published in a 2020 edition of Molecules. Drawing from 150 peer-reviewed studies, the authors created a detailed picture of geraniol’s bioactive properties.
In concluding remarks, they stated that:
[Geraniol] exhibits a number of biological activities, such as anti-microbiological, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Given its low toxicity and high efficacy, it can also potentially be part of a new class of promising therapeutic agents against many dangerous cancers.
Geraniol May Fight Cancer
Over the past two decades, medical science has found increasing evidence for the potential cancer-fighting properties of terpenes such as geraniol. A recent review of research literature in Biomedical Research International states:
The studies reported here confirm the anti-tumor properties of monoterpenes and their anticancer potential against various types of tumor.
The review singled out geraniol for its ability to inhibit tumor growth and promote cellular death of certain types of cancer tumors by regulating metabolic pathways and influencing the production of key proteins responsible for suppressing tumor growth.
A comprehensive review of geraniol’s anti-cancer potential comes from the International Journal of Oncology. Based on information gathered from more than 75 peer-reviewed sources, the authors wrote:
Experimental evidence supports the therapeutic or preventive effects of geraniol on different types of cancer, such as breast, lung, colon, prostate, pancreatic, and hepatic cancer, and has revealed the mechanistic basis for its pharmacological actions.
The literature also provided evidence that geraniol may increase the effectiveness of commonly used chemotherapy agents and limit the ability of cancer cells to create adaptive resistance to against anticancer drugs. In concluding remarks, researchers write:
Geraniol is a promising compound or chemical moiety for the development of a safe and effective multi-targeted anticancer agent.
In addition to its tumor-suppressing properties, geraniol shows promise in cancer prevention. This emerging field of research was described in a report titled, “Potential Effects of Geraniol on Cancer and Inflammation-Related Disease.” The authors explained:
Chemoprevention has emerged as a new strategy for fighting cancer, preventing and reducing cancer risk via the ingestion or administration of natural or synthetic chemicals.
[…] Studies suggest that monoterpenes might offer new chemotherapy strategies for cancer and inflammatory diseases. Accumulating evidence in the last decades has indicated that geraniol is a pure botanical compound without adverse effects, exerting diverse pharmacological activities.
Geraniol was shown to be effective in tumor suppression during early the stages of cancer by targeting many of the harmful molecular compounds that lead to tumor growth. The authors also reported that geraniol reduced the production of carcinogenic free radicals, and offset some of the toxic side effects of conventional chemotherapy medicines without compromising their effectiveness.
Additional recent information on geraniol’s cancer-fighting potential was reported in the January 2024 issue of the Arabian Journal of Chemistry. Laboratory results suggested that geraniol showed promise as an anti-tumor drug for the most common form of head and neck cancer.
Questions about how medical marijuana is integrated into cancer treatments?
Antibacterial and Antimicrobial Protection
A 2022 review of literature reported that geraniol had antimicrobial effects against 78 species of harmful fungal microorganisms and bacteria, included methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), a bacterial infection that has developed resistance to most all current antibiotics. The review also noted geraniol’s protective effects against certain types of bacteria-induced food poisoning and yeast infections caused by the overgrowth of candida albicans.
Research indicates that geraniol is effective in combating several forms of harmful bacteria that create staph infections. The authors write:
Our research results regarding Staphylococcus bacterial strains indicate that geraniol and its derivatives may be biologically active compounds used for the treatment of infections caused by these bacteria.
Helicobacter pylori bacterial infections are the most common cause of both duodenal and gastric ulcer disease. These conditions are not only painful, they can damage stomach tissues and spread to the small intestine. In recent years, this bacteria has developed an increased resistance to antibiotic treatments. While antacids and other medications commonly prescribed for these conditions can relieve symptoms, they do not provide a cure.
The Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine reported that geraniol showes promise as a natural treatment for gastric ulcer disease. In laboratory conditions, two weeks of orally administered geraniol provided measurable gastro protective effects, reduced the number and severity of gastric ulcers, combatted helicobacter pylori, and limited the over-production of stomach acids.
Bonus Therapeutic Benefits
The extensive body of research devoted to geraniol indicates it may provide a wide range of promising therapeutic effects, though many have yet to be confirmed in human trials. Three of the more promising areas where this terpene shows demonstrative potential involve blood sugar regulation, protection for injury-induced oxidative stress, and cardiovascular protection,
Diabetes: It is estimated that one in ten Americans now suffer from type II diabetes. A common symptom of this disease is hypoglycemia, which if left unaddressed, can cause nerve damage, vision problems, and kidney degradation. A study published in Pharmaceutical Biology reports that geraniol eliminates hypoglycemia in diabetic mice by stabilizing insulin and blood sugar levels. There are also indications that it may lessen the effects of diabetic neuropathy in humans.
Injury Recovery: Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine reports that geraniol provides protective and healing effects after traumatic injuries. In the cited study, a 30-day administration of geraniol inhibited inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in mice suffering from spinal chord injuries. Similar evidence comes from the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, which reports that geraniol aids in recovery from traumatic injuries while reducing neuropathic pain.
Heart Health: Research published in Life Sciences shows that geraniol provided cardio-protective effects against damaging oxidative stress associated with conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea. The European Journal of Pharmacology reports that geraniol may provide protective effects for the heart and other organs by reducing the fibrosis tissued damage caused by atherosclerosis. Research from Brazil shows that geraniol reduces the severity of heart arrhythmia and holds potential for the treatment of this condition.
What Are Natural Sources of Geraniol?
Geraniol has been identified as a component of more than 250 essential oils. Oils with the highest levels of this terpene include bergamon, rose oil, geranium oil, palmarosa oil, ginger grass, java citronella oil, and lamiaceae flower oil. You can get a dose of geraniol by sipping lemongrass or lavender tea, adding spices such as thyme, coriander, and basil, or by eating plums, peaches grapes, oranges and carrots.
What Cannabis Strains Have Geraniol?
Geraniol is never the dominant terpene in marijuana, but trace to small amounts are found in a majority of cannabis strains. A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is the most accurate way to determine geraniol content. These certificates are created by licensed third-party laboratories that test cannabis products to ensure they meet potency and quality standards.
ACS Laboratory is a leading resource for COAs that provide a detailed analysis of cannabinoid and terpene content. They offer the following suggestions for enhanced geraniol marijuana strains.
- Agent Orange: Sweet orange-scented, sativa-dominant strain known for energizing and uplifting effects.
- Black Cherry Soda: Potent strain with 20:80 indica/sativa ratio and average 20% THC. Known for a potent but pleasant high.
- Harlequin: High CBD/moderate THC strain favored by medical marijuana users for clear-headed relaxation and pain relief.
- Lemon G: Strong lemon accents with elevated THC/low CBD content known for upbeat, euphoric, and creative sensations.
- Strawberry Diesel: A balanced hybrid strain known for calming and anxiety-reducing effects.
Industry expert, Leafly, offers some additional suggestions for consumers that include
- Tahoe OG: Potent, fast-acting indica strain with deep relaxation and heavy sedating effects. A favorite for addressing insomnia and pain.
- Dutch Hawaiian: Sativa-dominant with refreshing fruit aromas. Provides non-sedating relaxation and promotes clear-headed creativity.
- Kimbo Kush: Aromatic and potent hybrid strain. Small doses provide relaxing effects, larger doses promote sleepiness and couch-lock effects.
How To Legally Purchase Geraniol
Ready to purchase marijuana products with geraniol? CannaMD‘s team of certified doctors is standing by to help you get your card! Just give us a call at (855) 420-9170 or fill out a quick online application!
