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Myrcene. noun. myr·cene ˈmərˌsēn, -sə̇n. plural-s : a liquid acyclic terpene hydrocarbon C10H16 that is isomeric with ocimene, occurs in bay oil, hop oil, and other essential oils, and polymerizes readily
What is Myrcene?
Myrcene, also known as β-myrcene, is a terpene that is found in many plants, including mangoes, hops, and thyme. It is also one of the most abundant terpenes found in cannabis, with some strains containing up to 60% myrcene.
It is found in the South African Adenandra villosa (50%) & Brazilian Schinus molle (40%). Myrcene is also found in Myrcia cuprea petitgrain (up to 48%), bay leaf, juniper berry, cannabis, and hops. It could in principle be extracted from any number of plants, such as verbena or wild thyme, the leaves of which contain up to 40% by weight of myrcene. Many other plants contain myrcene, sometimes in substantial amounts. Some of these include cannabis, hops, Houttuynia, lemon grass, mango, Myrcia, West Indian bay tree, and cardamom. Of the several terpenes extracted from Humulus lupulus (hops), the largest monoterpenes fraction is β-myrcene.
Aroma and Flavor:
Myrcene is known for its earthy, musky aroma, with hints of fruit and spice. Some people describe it as smelling like cloves or cardamom. It is also a major contributor to the aroma of hops, which is why some people describe certain strains of cannabis as having a "hoppy" flavor.
One study of the chemical composition of the fragrance of Cannabis sativa found β-myrcene to compose between 29.4% and 65.8% of the steam-distilled essential oil for the set of fiber and drug strains tested. Additionally, myrcene is thought to be the predominant terpene found in modern cannabis cultivars within North America. Interestingly, photo-oxidation of myrcene has been shown to rearrange the molecule into a novel terpene known as "hashishene" which is named for its abundance in hashish.
Effects and Benefits:
While more research is needed, some studies suggest that myrcene may have a number of potential health benefits. For example, it has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and may help reduce pain and swelling. It may also have sedative effects, which could make it useful for people with insomnia or anxiety.
In addition, myrcene may play a role in the entourage effect, which is the idea that different compounds in cannabis work together to produce unique effects. Some researchers believe that myrcene may enhance the effects of THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis.
Cultivars (strains) With Myrcene Dominance:
Cautions:
It is important to specify normal concentrations, as some terpenes can cause irritation, allergic reaction, nausea, headache, and/or acute toxic effects at very high doses - but these doses are much higher than you would ever consume in the course of using cannabis products.
Some terpenes can be dermal irritants, so their concentration in topical products needs to be carefully controlled. Guidance from organizations such as the International Fragrance Association shows that safe limits depend both on the type of product and the individual terpene.
The pharmacological hypothesis argues that aromatic compounds such as terpenes affect mood, physiology, and behavior because they interact with the nervous and/or endocrine systems (hormones).
Myrcene, or β-myrcene, is a monoterpene. A colorless oil, it occurs widely in essential oils. It is produced mainly semi-synthetically from Myrcia, from which it gets its name. It is an intermediate in the production of several fragrances. α-Myrcene is the name for the isomer 2-methyl-6-methylene-1,7-octadiene, which has not been found in nature.
Myrcene is often produced commercially by the pyrolysis (400 °C) of β-pinene, which is obtained from turpentine. It is rarely obtained directly from plants. Plants biosynthesize myrcene via geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP), which isomerizes into linalyl pyrophosphate. The release of the pyrophosphate (OPP) and a proton completes the conversion.
Formula: C10H16
Molar mass: 136.238 g/mol
PubChem CID: 31253
Melting Point: < −10 °C (14 °F; 263 K)
Boiling Point: 166 to 168 °C (331 to 334 °F; 439 to 441 K)
Density: 0.794 g/cm3