This article was written by Yigal Kotin
What are terpenes?
From the intense smell of an orange as soon as you peel it to the spicy taste of a basil leaf or the amazing aroma wafting from a lavender bush, terpenes are the organic compounds that develop the tastes and smells that make up our natural world.
The flavor and aroma extracts
At their core, terpenes are organic compounds found in the resin glands of the cannabis plant (trichomes) and throughout many other wild plants that are ultimately responsible for the flavor and smell profiles. The terpenes themselves are a natural combination of hydrogen and carbon atoms.
From a biological point of view, terpenes are secondary metabolites, meaning they are not directly involved in the normal growth, development or reproduction of the plant. Instead, they are made to attract certain insects and animals for pollination purposes or to defend against certain pests and herbivores that might try to eat or harm the plant.
Amazingly, there are more than 50,000 unique terpenes identified to date, many of which we experience every day. In cannabis, there are approximately 140 different terpenes that play a vital role in the aroma profiles and effects that vary greatly by flower strain. Importantly, these terpenes occur naturally in many different plants and are not exclusive to cannabis only.
Terpenes vs Terpenoids: What’s the Difference?
Although the words terpene and terpenoid are commonly used interchangeably, there is a noteworthy difference between the two. Unlike terpenes which are the compounds that occur naturally in the trichomes of the cannabis plant, terpenoids represent a modification of terpenes that are formed due to natural chemical processes.
Just as exposure to oxygen can cause food to spoil, terpenoids are a byproduct of aging or drying that affects the oxygen content of the terpenes, causing them to differ.
Focused effect and strong effect
By themselves, terpenes provide proven therapeutic properties of great potency. However, thanks to the “entourage effect” that describes the effectiveness of compounds when they interact, terpenes play a vital role in providing the medicinal effect of cannabis and improving the quality of life.
The sensitive and volatile properties of terpenes
Terpenes are very volatile molecules, meaning they can evaporate easily. Although their average boiling point is around 130°C, terpenes begin to evaporate at around 65°C.
The terpenes are lipophilic, meaning they are “fat loving” and hydrophobic “water hating” which therefore do not mix well with water. In addition, terpenes are extremely sensitive to light and oxygen, which can cause damage to the compounds when not stored properly. Despite their extremely complex and subtle nature, terpenes are still incredibly influential molecules contained in the cannabis plant.
The unique role of terpenes
Between the powerful sensation emanating from fragrances to their attractive and protective properties and strong interactions with other natural compounds, terpenes play a versatile, vibrant and dynamic role. Thanks to their unique functionality, terpenes represent one of the most important building blocks for supporting the countless quality of life benefits of cannabis.
The entourage effect
Cannabis is known to contain many compounds in different amounts that vary according to the strain of the flower. In general, the hundreds of organic compounds contained in the plant can be divided into two main categories of cannabinoids and non-cannabinoid components. The best known cannabinoids include cannabidiol ( CBD ) and (THC).
While some strains contain more of the psychoactive THC, other strains are richer in CBD which is commonly used to combat pain and other medical indications.
Although the terpenes themselves are not responsible for the actual psychoactive effect of cannabis, they do contribute to the overall medicinal cannabis experience, the so-called “entourage effect”.
The strong effect of terpenes
While it is commonly thought that the “strength” of a particular cannabis strain depends on the ratio of cannabinoids contained in the flower, terpenes have been found to be a powerful ingredient in promoting the many benefits of cannabis. The so-called “entourage effect” means that the different compounds, in this case cannabinoids and terpenes, work together in harmony to provide the best experience.
By themselves, terpenes are known to promote certain therapeutic benefits that may include anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal properties along with other effects that can be characterized as anti-anxiety, stress-relieving, and mood-enhancing. Depending on the concentration of terpenes found within a strain of cannabis, they can moderate or promote certain effects.
Harnessing nature’s organic collaborations
The terpenes act as powerful delivery mechanisms that increase the effectiveness of the cannabinoids, or in some cases, reduce potential unpleasant side effects. Cannabis concentrates such as oils are usually focused on extracting the cannabinoids, often overlooking the powerful synergies that result from the inclusion of their strain-specific terpenes.
Ultimately, achieving the most convincing therapeutic results from cannabis-based products depends on the inclusion of terpene oils thanks to their multifaceted and functional effects.
These are the reasons we at Golden CBD enrich our premium series with dedicated terpenes to achieve a maximum therapeutic result and also promote our broad spectrum series where all the natural terpenes found in the hemp flowers help to achieve the entourage effect discussed in this article!
