Understanding Myrcene: The Essential Terpene In Cannabis

fragrant sage terpenes
This article explores myrcene, a key terpene in cannabis known for its earthy aroma and potential health benefits. It discusses myrcene's chemistry, history, health benefits, and presence in various cannabis strains, and answers many common questions including the safety of use, product integrity and suggested cultivars.
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Anyone who has inhaled a soothing breath of fragrant sage, enjoyed the crisp resinous scent of a pine forest, or savored the luscious aroma of a ripe mango can thank terpenes for the experience. And the same holds true for medical cannabis users who relish the flavor and smell of a favorite strain.

Terpenes are naturally occurring compounds produced by plants and some animals. They influence the flavors, aromas and sometimes even the colors of plants. Their aromatics in flora health:

  • Discourage insect predation,
  • Off-put foraging animals,
  • Attract pollinators,
  • Protect against UV rays and bacterial infections, and even
  • Release organic compounds that help trigger rainfall.


CannaMD
has written a guide to cannabinoid terpenes about the ways in which terpenes influence the character of cannabis strains, how they may provide bacterial, viral, and fungal protection, and how they interact with the human endocannabinoid system to enhance the therapeutic benefits of medical marijuana.

At least 150 major and minor terpenes are found in cannabis plants. The most abundant of these is myrcene, which is present in a vast majority of marijuana cultivars and is the dominant terpene in almost 50% of modern strains. Myrcene’s flavor profile is often described as earthy, clove-like, and mildly sweet. Some call it “the scent that makes weed smell like weed.”

What Is Myrcene?

A chemist would describe myrcene as a “monoterpene comprised of two isoprene units.” In everyday language, it’s a relatively simple chemical compound that easily binds and interacts with a wide range of other organic compounds.

Myrcene essence is:

  • Widely used as a flavoring agent in food and beverage production,
  • Incorporated into cosmetics and soaps, and
  • Naturally occurring in cannabis (both singly and in complex mixtures with other monoterpenes).

Myrcene also serves as a top note in perfumes!

Myrcene’s highly bioactive nature and elevated chemical affinity contribute to its known therapeutic effects, and likely influence the rapidity and intensity of uptake associated with certain cannabis strains. According to a report published in Frontiers In Nutrition:

Myrcene is bioavailable in human plasma within 30 min after consumption of a single dose and reaches the plasma unaltered. This could partially explain its health benefits and applications on human health.

Is Myrcene Safe?

The short answer is “yes,” when it comes to consumption of the naturally occurring myrcene found in marijuana.

However, confusion and concerns over myrcene’s safety can be traced back to 2014, when the Californian Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) listed myrcene as a potential carcinogenic agent under Proposition 65. This broad regulation lists thousands of common products that might prove carcinogenic, ranging from clothing, furniture, and toys to electronics, food products, and medical equipment.

Critics of Proposition 65 maintain that criteria for inclusion on the list are sometimes based on unrealistic circumstances and excessive exposures. This means that laboratory simulations involving high dosages and long, repeated exposure to a substance may have little bearing on real world conditions.

A 2022 post from Consumer Reports highlighted this concern with the headline:“Why California Thinks Your Couch Will Give You Cancer.”

In contrast to California’s listing, the Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology reports:

Myrcene is not listed in the [National Institute Of Health] Toxicology Program Report on Carcinogens, nor is it listed as a carcinogen by any other agency.

Importantly: Not all myrcene is the same. While occurring naturally in thousands of plants, including cannabis, various myrcene formulations are extracted and synthesized through industrial processes that employ harsh solvents and other potentially hazardous materials. Safety concerns raised by the California EPA are likely related to direct and excessive exposure to these industrial compounds.

So go ahead and enjoy that cup of lemongrass tea or a joint of Blue Dream!

What Are The Effects Of Myrcene?

The Entourage Effect

There are 480 known cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds found in cannabis. Science is just beginning to understand the ways in which these disparate elements influence each other as they mix and mingle. The entourage effect is a phenomenon that may be triggered by myrcene’s high bioavailability and ease of bonding. Leading industry members offer this explanation:

The entourage effect theorizes that the plant as a whole, including terpenes and cannabinoids, delivers more robust therapeutic effects than any cannabinoid could alone.

The entourage effect was first noted in 1998 by renowned cannabis researcher, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam. In years since, the concept has been widely embraced by cannabis growers, retailers, and consumers.

Myrcene In Traditional Medicines

The therapeutic use of myrcene-rich plants dates back thousands of years. Two thousand year old Roman texts describe the medicinal virtues of thyme, a herb that can contain up to 40% myrcene by weight. And long before hops became a flavoring agent in beer, it was a prized herbal remedy in ancient Egypt – becoming a staple of European folk medicine for its treatment of digestive disorders and liver diseases.

Asian and Ayurvedic healing traditions use calming lemongrass teas and administer essential lemongrass extracts as remedies for numerous conditions, from stomachaches and coughs to high blood pressure and joint pain.

Traditional Brazilian healers use a plant known as mycria leaf to cure a similar range of maladies. Healers also consider mycria leaf to be an effective treatment for diabetes.

Chemists have known about myrcene and other terpenes since the mid-1800s, but for many years the main focus of myrcene research centered on uses such as flavor and scent additives. Investigations of myrcene’s potential therapeutic benefits – and cannabis-related benefits in particular – gained traction around the year 2000 when the number of studies on the subject rose from five or fewer annually to more than 140 peer-reviewed research papers in 2023.

Below, you’ll find a  sampling of current research on the subject.

Myrcene Has Antibacterial Properties

Japanese microbiologists found that myrcene can stimulate antibacterial action in human cellular tissue, and is effective in combating the most common types of staph infection affecting human skin and other tissues.

A Taiwanese research team measured the abilities of nine major terpenes found in wine and cannabis, concluding that myrcene, limonene, and pinene provide protection from food-borne pathogenic bacteria.

Is Myrcene A Sedative?

Myrcene can help with relaxation and sleep. Research from Brazil’s Federal University of Ceará confirms that myrcene has muscle-relaxing properties, finding that specific dosages more than doubled restful sleep times in laboratory mice.

Is Myrcene Anti-Inflammatory?

Numerous studies point to myrcene’s ability to reduce the acute inflammation associated with injury and chronic degenerative conditions. Research from United Arab Emirates University shows that administration of myrcene extract reduces oxidative damage and inflammation of kidney cells while improving kidney function.

A report in the European Journal of Pharmacology confirmed myrcene’s anti-inflammatory properties and found that it was effective in slowing or stopping cartilage destruction and the progression of osteoarthritis.

Laboratory research from the International Journal of Molecular Sciences reports that myrcene provides relief from chronic joint inflammation in rodent populations, and that this effect is caused by the activation of cannabinoid receptors.

Can Myrcene Help With Pain Management?

Scientific evidence for myrcene’s analgesic (pain relieving) qualities dates back to the late 1980s. In one study from 1991, rodent subjects fed myrcene-rich lemongrass experienced measurable pain-relief symptoms. And, unlike many common pain medications that become less effective with repeated use, the relief provided by myrcene remained unchanged after multiple applications.

This led the research team to write:

Terpenes such as myrcene may constitute a lead for the development of new peripheral analgesics with a profile of action different from that of aspirin-like drugs.

Is Myrcene Cancer Fighting?

Research from China’s Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences indicates that myrcene has an anti-tumor effect on lung cancer cells. Trials from Luohe Medical College in Henan, China, show similarly promising anti-tumor effects for oral cancers. And a Korean team from Konkuk University, Seoul reports that myrcene shows promise in slowing tumor growth in breast cancers.

Some of the latest evidence of myrcene’s role in fighting cancer comes from a 2023 report in the journal, Molecules. The authors state:

The cytotoxic [cancer cell destroying] effect of myrcene was found against a wide range of cancer cells, such as breast cancer, colon adenocarcinoma and leukemia cells, lung cancer cells, and other tumor cell lines.

Is Myrcene More Indica Or Sativa?

Myrcene is a dominant or prominent terpene in numerous strains of Cannabis sativa and indica, as well as the many hybrid cultivars now on the market.

Sativa is the label given to strains that provide more energizing and creative effects, while indica is the term applied to relaxing strains.

The indica/sativa distinction is an oversimplification, as a myriad of additional factors influence the way a given strain affects the human body. Compounds such as THC, CBD and 100-plus additional cannabinoids all factor into the mix, as do other terpene profiles of any given strain.

Myrcene typically promotes relaxation, but its effect can be lessened or overridden by other elements in the strain.

How To Find Myrcene-Dominant Marijuana Strains

Myrcene is present in most cannabis cultivars, but consumers looking to reap the full benefits of this terpene should look for products containing concentrations of .05% or greater. These high-myrcene strains are typically known to induce a sense of calm and provide full-body relaxation. However, certain myrcene-influenced strains are also associated with mood-enhancing effects that lead to enhanced mental focus and creativity.

Numerous sources recommend high-myrcene indica strains for relaxation, and mention hybrid and sativa strains as alternatives to avoid the immobilizing effect known as “couch lock.” ACS Laboratory, which is one of the nation’s leading providers of full-panel cannabis testing and certification, considers this description an oversimplification. In their guide to myrcene, ACS writes:

A study of indica and sativa products revealed those terms lack scientific meaning and can’t accurately describe strains’ cannabinoid and terpene profiles or overall effects. Understanding a product’s complete chemical profile, also known as its chemovar, is the only way to pick the right product.

Dispensary staff (also known as “budtenders”) can be a good source of information on the properties of a given strain. More detailed information can also be gleaned from a Certificate of Analysis (COA) generated by a third-party laboratory. A COA will provide information on the lab’s credentials and a breakdown of the strain’s composition and potency, including full profiles on cannabinoids, terpenes, and any detected impurities such as pesticides, microorganisms, residual solvents, and heavy metals. Some cannabis brands will add COA summaries to their product labeling, while full reports are typically accessed by scanning a QR code or visiting a website. In addition to reviewing the COA, consumers should check the product’s date of production, as some terpenes degrade over time.

Popular High-Myrcene Marijuana Strains

With nearly 800 named and recognized strains of cannabis now on the market, weeding through so many choices in search of the ideal high-myrcene product might seem daunting. The following list is a good starting point:

  • Blue Dream: Myrcene average: 0.8% – Energizing or sedative, depending on dosage
  • OG Kush: Myrcene average: 0.7% – Uplifting and relaxing
  • Harlequin: Myrcene average: 0.7% – Clear-headedness and focus
  • Purple Urkle: Myrcene average: 0.4% – Relaxing and sleepy
  • Granddaddy Purple: Myrcene average: 0.3% – Natural sedative and euphoric

Other well-reviewed high-myrcene cultivars include Pineapple Express, White Widow, Cherry Pie, and Northern Lights.

 

Dispensaries Near Me

Do You Have Questions About High-Myrcene Medical Marijuana?

CannaMD’s state-certified network of medical marijuana doctors is available to provide advice and assistance with your medical marijuana questions and needs. Contact CannaMD’s experienced team at (855) 420-9170 today. Ready to get your card and purchase legal cannabis products? You can find out if you qualify for medical marijuana treatment with our quick online application!

Updated: October 1, 2024

Article Written By:
Fact-checked By: Jessica Walters

Pierce Hoover

Pierce Hoover is a career journalist with more than three decades of experience in print, broadcast and online writing, editing and reporting, with more than 5,000 articles published in national and international print media and online. His focus on medical marijuana therapies mirrors his broader interest in science-based alternative medical practices.

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