Higher Learning LV Staff
Aug 16, 20212 min
Updated: Jul 10, 2022
Like ocimene and other terpenes, the major terpene pinene manifests as two closely related isomers: An alpha (α-pinene) and a beta version (β-pinene). Although very similar in molecular structure, different efficacy is delivered by these two compounds.
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Research has revealed that pinene offers a range of medicinal benefits for various disease states and conditions, including arthritis, cancer, and gastrointestinal conditions (such as ulcer).
A 2019 study entitled "Therapeutic Potential of α- and β-Pinene: A Miracle Gift of Nature" that was published in the journal Biomolecules explored the medicinal efficacy of both versions of this terpene. The research reported that both terpenes deliver "a wide range of pharmacological activities have been reported, including antibiotic resistance modulation, anticoagulant, antitumor, antimicrobial, antimalarial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-Leishmania, and analgesic effects."
The anticancer properties of both types of pinene were explored by the study, which reported "tumor growth suppression due to cell death, slow-growing cells, and lower weight." α-pinene specifically was shown to be "effective in experimental metastatic melanoma healing, reducing the number of lung cancer nodules." The researchers concluded that "it is clear that these terpenes have antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiallergic properties."
A 2015 study entitled "Gastroprotective Effect of Alpha-pinene and its Correlation with Antiulcerogenic Activity of Essential Oils Obtained from Hyptis Species" that was published in Pharmacognosy Magazine investigated the potential medicinal efficacy of pinene.
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The study reported that α-pinene treatment was beneficial in a number of ways, including its prevention of gastric lesions, a reduction in the volume and acidity of gastric juice, and an increase in the mucus that lines gastric walls in healthy patients. The exact "gastroprotective effect" was determined to be significantly influenced by the precise dosing of α-pinene.
The researchers concluded that α-pinene demonstrated effectiveness for a variety of conditions related to healthy gastrointestinal function. "Our data showed that α-pinene exhibited significant antiulcerogenic activity," wrote the study’s authors.