‘Tis Pinenes in the Air for The Holidays’
During this holiday season, people around the world are gathering with their loved ones, sharing their wins and losses, and preparing to welcome family, friends, and maybe even a random ‘couch surfer’. Smells are certainly an important component for the winter holiday as they help create a homey ambience and sense of warmth. From cinnamon, spice and apple, to myrrh, frankincense, and pine trees, these are the scents that are associated with the holidays and the spirit of giving. In fact, during childhood many may recall rubbing pine needles between their fingers and smelling the extravagance of nature’s purest odor right at their fingertips. The good news is that it’s never too late to experience that smell and the science behind it!
“…this syrupy chemical sparked research into the pharmacological ability of related compounds and even influenced the name of the class of chemicals - “terpene”.”
The piney, coniferous wood smell inundating one’s nostrils is dominated by two volatile odor compounds (VOCs) or terpenes: alpha and beta-pinene. Pinenes are prominent in wood oils, like pine and cedar. Alpha and beta pinene are small monoterpenes, structurally similar to other ten carbon-long terpene molecules, such as limonene (which accounts for citrusy smells). Pinene is one of the most commonly found terpenes in nature and makes up a component of the important chemical - turpentine [1]. This compound is the sappy product of piney trees and can be employed as a natural solvent during the production of other chemicals. Interest in this syrupy chemical sparked research into the pharmacological ability of related compounds and even influenced the name of the class of chemicals - “terpene”.
Pinenes and Cannabis.
In addition to being found in pines, pinenes are also expressed in other plants and herbs, like sage, eucalyptus, rosemary, and cannabis. Both pinenes have been reported to be present in certain samples of cannabis flower. Leafly lists dozens of strains, that are presumably rich in pinenes. In our analytical test result reviews, certain strains of cannabis express significant levels of pinenes, up to 1.5% per total weight of the dried flower. Cannabis strains dominated by pinenes are popularly described as providing a clear focus and mental alertness. However, when pinene interacts or co-occurs with other terpenes, like myrcene, it’s mentally invigorating effects could be dwarfed by the counterparts’ sedative properties.
Therapeutic Potential of Pinene.
Aside from providing cannabis and other plants protection from insects [2], pinene is a therapeutically active compound that may contribute to the medicinal effects of cannabis. It is often used over the counter to externally treat muscle, joint, nerve and toothaches. Pinenes were shown to be effective against the bacteria responsible for intense infections of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), when given with or without the cannabinoid CBD, reducing inflammation, and showing positive effects in experiments with human cancer cell lines [3-7].
“…pinene has a mechanism by which it can increase acetylcholine in the brain. It acts as an inhibitor of the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine - cholinesterase inhibitor…”
Pinene’s ability to improve alertness and memory may be useful in the future treatments of various psychological and neurological disorders. In the brain, pinene has a mechanism by which it can increase levels of an important neurotransmitter - acetylcholine. Acetylcholine in the brain is important for memory and learning. In Alzheimer's disease, the shortage of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine causes lapses in memory and mental issues, leading to dementia. It turns out that pinenes can block the breakdown of acetylcholine in the brain and mechanistically act similarly to the most common Alzheimer’s medications. Given some of its promising therapeutic effects, it will be captivating to see future scientific and clinical studies with natural pinenes. Perhaps combinations of specific ratios of pinenes and other molecules in cannabis may lead us to new, natural neuroprotective and anti-dementia remedies.
As the holiday season is upon us, now is a perfect opportunity to inhale the scents of the season and remember the science behind it. Cheers to nature, cheers to all of you, our dear readers, and on your favorite winter holiday, please wake up, smell some pinenes, and reminisce in peace and warmth.
Copyright Bluebonnet Wellness 2022 © by Adendox, LLC
Adopted from previous publication the GROW magazine by Dr. Jokūbas Žiburkus, PhD (aka Dr. Z), Louis Adam, and Ahmad Abdulla.
REFERENCES:
1. Noma, Y. & Asakawa, Y. in Handbook of Essential Oils 747-905 (CRC Press, 2015).
2. Nerio, L. S., Olivero-Verbel, J. & Stashenko, E. Repellent activity of essential oils: a review. Bioresour Technol 101, 372-378, doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2009.07.048 (2010).
3. Wagner, H. & Ulrich-Merzenich, G. Synergy research: approaching a new generation of phytopharmaceuticals. Phytomedicine 16, 97-110, doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2008.12.018 (2009).
4. Kose, E. O., Deniz, I. G., Sarikurkcu, C., Aktas, O. & Yavuz, M. Chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the essential oils of Sideritis erythrantha Boiss. and Heldr. (var. erythrantha and var. cedretorum P.H. Davis) endemic in Turkey. Food Chem Toxicol 48, 2960-2965, doi:10.1016/j.fct.2010.07.033 (2010).
5. Appendino, G. et al. Antibacterial cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa: a structure-activity study. J Nat Prod 71, 1427-1430, doi:10.1021/np8002673 (2008).
6. Chen, W. et al. Anti-tumor effect of alpha-pinene on human hepatoma cell lines through inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest. J Pharmacol Sci 127, 332-338, doi:10.1016/j.jphs.2015.01.008 (2015).
7. Raman, A., Weir, U. & Bloomfield, S. F. Antimicrobial effects of tea-tree oil and its major components on Staphylococcus aureus, Staph. epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes. Lett Appl Microbiol 21, 242-245 (1995).