The Entourage Effect from Terpenes
by James Tindall, PhD
As I have mentioned in the past, research is slowly catching up to the benefits of hemp extract oil(s), commonly called CBD (cannabidiol).
Some of that research utilizes animal studies. Generally, in those studies, the CBD used is synthetic, i.e., a single-molecule CBD produced by biochemical laboratories for research purposes. This is unlike plant extractions that usually include, CBD, THC, and as many as 300-400 trace compounds. And, these compounds become the real key to the benefits of CBD because they have a synergistic interaction that creates what scientists refer to as an “entourage effect.” This type of effect both multiplies and magnifies the therapeutic benefits of the hemp plant’s individual components. What does this mean? It means that the medicinal impact of the whole plant is much greater than the sum of the parts.
Therefore, if you are looking at animal studies and how CBD interacts with animals, it is important to consider the entourage effect when comparing and extrapolating data based from animal studies. This is because when using a synthetic CBD, there is no entourage effect. For example, 100 milligrams of synthetic single-molecule CBD is not equivalent to 100 milligrams of a CBD-rich whole plant cannabis extract. This is also why CBD or hemp-extract oils work so well for people from my research. The high number of compounds and the potential synergistic effect between and among them, combined with the effects our endocannabinoid system, actually make it difficult to pin down why CBD works so well for many health issues. Research will slowly give us the why’s. Additionally, it should be noted that CBD is poly-pharmaceutical with the synergy arising from the interactions of/between/among the multiple components.
Terpenes
To further analyze, we can observe the role of terpenes. These compounds, Terpenes, are volatile aromatic molecules that evaporate easily and tantalize the nostrils, i.e., they have a very noticeable aroma. The pharmacological importance of terpenes or terpenoids is that they form the basis of aromatherapy. As you may know, this is a popular holistic healing modality. If you smoke marijuana or use various salves made from the two main varieties of the cannabis plant, you will note that these products have a noticeable fragrance. Both the fragrance and the psychoactive flavor, depending on what product you use, are determined by the predominate terpenes within the cannabis strain.
In terms of numbers, about 200 terpenes have been found in cannabis varieties, whether utilized for smoking or for CBD and isolate extraction. However, only a few of these terpenes appear in amounts substantial enough to be noteworthy; these generally include – diterpenes, monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes that are characterized by the number of repeating units of a 5-carbon molecule called isoprene, which is the structural characteristic of all terpenoid compounds. As an example, terpenes in cannabis indica (marijuana used for smoking) have given the plant an enduring and an evolutionary advantage. What is this advantage? The pungent terpenoid oils repel insects and animal grazers and some prevent fungus. Thus, terpenes are healthy for both plants and people.
As a further example, Beta-caryophyllene, is a sesquiterpene found in the essential oil of black pepper, oregano, and other edible herbs. It is also found in various cannabis strains and in many green, leafy vegetables. It is gastro-protective that is good for treating certain ulcers and offers also, great promise as a therapeutic compound for inflammatory conditions and auto-immune disorders. This is because it binds directly to the peripheral cannabinoid receptor known as “CB2.” In comparison, in 2008, the Swiss scientist Jürg Gertsch documented beta-caryophyllene’s binding affinity for the CB2 receptor and further went on to describe it as “a dietary cannabinoid.” Currently, it is the only known terpenoid to directly activate a cannabinoid receptor. This is one of the reasons why green, leafy vegetables are so healthy in your diet.
Another role of terpenes is that both terpenoids and cannabinoids both increase blood flow, enhance cortical activity, and kill respiratory pathogens, including MRSA, the antibiotic-resistant bacteria that in recent years has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Americans. There is research underway to use these products for erectile dysfunction. Potentially, cannabinoid-terpenoid interactions may produce synergy to treatment of pain, inflammation, depression, anxiety, addiction, epilepsy, cancer, fungal and bacterial infections. While there is lots of anecdotal evidence to suggest this, hard-core research is now entering the fray.
For those who smoke marijuana terpenes and CBD buffer THC’s tricky psychoactivity. How does this work? The interactions between CBD and terpenoids appear to amplify the beneficial effects of cannabis while mitigating THC-induced anxiety. Thus, it could be all in the profile. For, example, patients who abandon a suitable cannabis strain for a strain with higher THC and/or CBD content may not get more relief if the terpenoid profile is significantly different. Thus, this also fits with Liebig’s Law of the Minimum. So, more is not necessarily better.