Study Finds Terpenes Activate the Endocannabinoid Receptors CB1 and CB2
Summarize
Researchers in Israel conducted a clinical study to assess the effects of cannabis plant terpenes on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) receptors. These are the same receptors involved in producing the effects of CBD and THC. The study, published in the journal Biochemical Pharmacology, found that the aromatic compounds activate the CB1 and CB2 receptors in a measurable and meaningful way. The researchers explained that the clinical evidence from this study shows terpenes may influence the body more than previously believed.
The study examined 16 well-known cannabis terpenes, including α-pinene, β-pinene, limonene, myrcene, ocimene, terpinolene, linalool, eucalyptol, geraniol, β-caryophyllene, humulene, bisabolol, and others. Using a high-precision testing system that enables the study of ion transport and channel function, the researchers measured how each terpene affected the two key cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2. These receptors are known to regulate many biological functions.
To detect receptor activity, the scientists monitored GIRK currents, which indicate when a receptor is activated. They discovered that many of the terpenes produced dose-dependent activation of both CB1 and CB2 receptors. At the same time, terpenes did not activate the receptors as strongly as THC. Several produced 10–60 percent of THC’s effect. The amount of terpene needed to cause a measurable effect was lower than the amount of THC required. This means that, even though terpenes may have a lower overall impact, they exhibit equal or greater potency in the lab.
The researchers also noted that cannabinoid interactions, such as those involving THC and CBD, have long been understood, but terpene interactions remain less clear. A previous study by the same authors suggested that some terpenes may behave as partial agonists at CB1 receptors. An agonist is a compound that mimics the actions of a hormone or neurotransmitter when it binds to brain receptors. This new research strengthens the idea that terpenes are agonists, showing that many of them can independently activate both CB1 and CB2 receptors at different levels.
The terpenes activated the CB2 receptors but did not cause psychoactive effects. They did not cause a high, in other words. However, activating CB2 receptors has been associated with various therapeutic and protective benefits.
The study authors wrote,
“Importantly, the ability of selected terpenes to activate CB1R and CB2R suggests that they may contribute independently to cannabis pharmacology and may serve as non-psychotropic ECS modulators in therapeutic applications. This is particularly relevant for CB2R-targeted effects, where terpene-based interventions may offer advantages over synthetic cannabinoids or THC analogues.”
Another important suggestion is that specific terpenes may be playing an independent role in the therapeutic effects of cannabis. This would mean that it is not just cannabinoids that produce the desired effects. Terpenes are known to be safe, and this study indicates that managing the amount of terpenes taken may modulate the endocannabinoid system. This has significant implications for future therapeutics and for CBD product formulations.
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