Core Cannabis Course: Super Class Terpenes

Welcome to homework assignment CCC 1.26 of the Core Cannabis Course from Higher Learning LV. In this assignment, students learn about a special category of the aromatic compounds that are produced cannabis and hemp called terpenes. Industry professionals are exposed to the group of eight "super class" terpenes identified by an October 2022 peer-reviewed research study as being the most common in North American cannabis cultivars.

In the assignments that follow, students are exposed to in-depth analyses of each of the eight super class terpenes, including the latest scientific research studies pertaining to their biochemical characteristics and potential medicinal efficacy when consumed by humans.

A 2022 study entitled "Effects of Super-class Cannabis Terpenes Beta-caryophyllene and Alpha-pinene on Zebrafish Behavioral Biomarkers" that was published in the journal Scientific Reports suggested the existence of a special class of terpenes, the aromatic molecules produced by more than 20,000 botanical species on earth, including hemp and cannabis. The study analyzed the properties of two members of this group, alpha-pinene and beta-caryophyllene.

The study's authors reported that cannabis terpenes "have emerged as candidate therapeutic compounds following the potential health benefits of the phytocannabinoids ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)." They explained that terpenes are a major class of phytochemicals and that they form the essential oils of plants and flowers and are responsible for their "varying aromas, flavors, and colors."

Within the cannabis and hemp industries, terpenes are known as the source of the sometimes pungent aromas of particular cultivars, although this aroma profile is complex. Biochemically, it results from terpenes in combination with other aroma-producing molecules, including esters, acetates, and ketones (among others). It is more accurate to frame terpenes as a major contributor to the aroma of cannabis flowers rather than labeling them the source of fragrance in this botanical species.

"Terpenes are a major class of phytochemicals that form the essential oils of plants and flowers and are responsible for their varying aromas, flavors, and colors."

The scientists explained how terpenes are manufactured within the glandular trichomes of the flowers of mature female plants, the same source as the most popular chemical compounds produced by hemp and cannabis, the cannabinoids CBD and THC. The study reported that recent research has found terpenes, like some of their chemical cousins the cannabinoids, to possess a range of potential medicinal benefits, including "anti-inflammatory, anxiety-reducing (anxiolytic), and antidepressant effects in humans and mice."

Other potential benefits have been noted, including seizure-reducing results in those suffering epilepsy from terpenes such as limonene and linalool—both of which are super class terpenes.

Some experts and researchers claim that the popular commercial categories of indica, sativa, and hybrid that attempt to explain the anticipated results of consuming a particular sample of loose-leaf flower or a formulated product are driven almost exclusively by the particular mix of terpenes present.

Critics argue that the indica and sativa naming convention is not based in science and is often misleading for both retail dispensary staff members and customers alike. Many have suggested that a more science-based system is needed by the industry to evolve beyond the extreme stigma and misunderstanding that have resulted from a century of cannabis prohibition in North America.

The study reported that terpenes are specialized hydrocarbon compounds constructed from isoprene molecules and that they are classified according to the number of isoprenes that they hold. The most common terpenes produced by cannabis and hemp consist of two isoprene molecules and are called monoterpenes. Those that feature three isoprenes are called sesquiterpenes. Diterpenes, which feature four isoprene molecules, are less common.

Although they are found less often in cannabis, a number of other terpene types—comprised of varying numbers of isoprene molecules—exist, including sesterpenes and triterpenes.

The major categories of cannabis terpenes are monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. The majority of the research studies and scientific literature pertaining to cannabis- and hemp-derived terpenes is regarding monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes.

The researchers reported that monoterpenes contribute more to the aroma of the cannabis plant than other types, but that this is because they are more volatile and, therefore, somewhat of a liability for commercial production that involves potentially lengthy periods of processing, distribution, and retail inventory. During this process, a significant percentage of monoterpenes necessarily break down and otherwise degrade by the time they reach end consumers.

Several classes of terpenes exist, although the monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes described above are clearly the most common within cannabis and hemp.

The study explained that individual cannabis and hemp cultivars feature unique terpene profiles. A terpene profile is a group of terpenes (perhaps one dozen or more) that are produced in particular ratios to one another. This creates an aggregate effect that results in sometimes unique and coveted aroma profiles, as well as varying psychoactive and medicinal effects.

"Research has found terpenes have medicinal properties including anti-inflammatory, anxiety-reducing (anxiolytic), and antidepressant effects."

Terpene profile is influenced by a complex interaction between genetics and environmental conditions. The lifecycle maturity of a plant at the time of harvest is also a strong influence over the exact terpene and cannabinoid profiles that it will feature.

The study reported that North American cultivars of cannabis produce more than fifty terpenes, eight of which clearly predominate to form a "terpene super class." These super class terpenes are:

These super class terpenes and the peer-reviewed research behind them are the subject of the remainder of this course.

View the original study.