Powerful Ocimene Properties

Learn the important role Ocimene plays in iconic chemovars, plus discover some of its powerful properties.

What do chemovars like Jack Herer, Strawberry Cough, and Green Crack all have in common? They all contain Ocimene! While you may not have heard of it, ocimene is a common terpene isolate found in the leaves and flowers of many plants. 

It’s also important to note that there are different kinds of ocimene. This is really important when it comes to recreating accurate terpene profiles of specific chemovars. 

Read on and learn where you can find this important isolate, its role in nature, plus discover some of its powerful properties that can be harnessed for a variety of products.

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SHOP STRAWBERRY COUGH

What is Ocimene?

Ocimene can be found in a variety of forms, and many plants produce a mixture of these forms. While they’re all monoterpenes, α-Ocimene and ß-Ocimene differ when it comes to their isolated double bonds. In the former, these bonds are terminal. ß-Ocimene, however, can exist in two forms—cis and trans.

cis-ß-Ocimene tends to have a woodsier scent compared to the more floral, sweet aroma of trans-ß-Ocimene. Both, however, can be found in plants and fruits like basil, kumquats, guava, passion fruit, pepper and more.

In nature, ocimene plays surprisingly important roles. On top of deterring pests, ocimene may act as a pheromone that can influence social behaviors in bee colonies. Evidence suggests that E-β-ocimene encourages nest workers to start foraging at younger ages which promotes homeostasis within the colony as a whole.

Jack Herer and trans-ß-Ocimene

Recently, we’ve discovered that trans-ß-Ocimene plays a pivotal role in the aroma and flavor of beloved chemovar Jack Herer. 

In partnership with the original Jack Herer cultivators, we used two-dimensional gas chromatography along with a suite of other analytical equipment to discover that roughly 9% of the Jack Herer terpene profile is made up of trans-ß-Ocimene. That’s significant!

Many terpene blends, however, end up using cis-ß-Ocimene. This could be because of several things. First, it’s possible that their Ocimene source was simply impure and had a low percentage of trans-ß-Ocimene present. It’s also possible that these manufacturers just aren’t aware that cis- and trans- isomers have different aromas when obtained in their pure form. 

Regardless, trans-ß-Ocimene is the key to accurately recreating the Jack Herer terpene profile. 

SHOP JACK HERER

Ocimene Has Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Potential

Like many monoterpenes, ocimene has lots of potential as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound.

In one study published by the Asian Pacific Journal of Biomedicine, the essential oil of T. minuta (a type of marigold) was analyzed and then tested for its antioxidant capacity. This particular plant produces several different kinds of Ocimene, including E-ocimene, cis-β-ocimene, Z-ocimene, and epoxyocimene. 

The results found that “T. minuta essential oil has radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activities and could potentially be used as a safe effective source of natural antioxidants in therapy against oxidative damage and stress associated with some inflammatory conditions.”

Ocimene May Act as an Antifungal

Several Ocimene isomers show promise as antifungal agents. A study published by Food and Chemical Toxicology examined the antioxidant, antifungal, and antiinflammatory properties of Oenanthe crocata essential oil.

The essential oil was comprised of 31.3% trans-β-ocimene and 12.3% cis-β-ocimene respectively. During the course of the study, “the minimal inhibitory and minimal lethal concentrations (MICs and MLCs) were determined. The oil was particularly active against dermatophytes and Cryptococcus neoformans, with MIC values ranging from 0.08 to 0.16 μL/mL.”

Ocimene Could Be a Potent Antiviral

While more research is needed, several studies have examined the efficacy of several ocimene-dense essential oils for their antiviral potential.

One study published by Chemistry and Biodiversity examined the essential oils of seven different plant species from Lebanon. One of the oils (L. nobilis) had high amounts of beta-ocimene and showed “a strong antiviral activity against SARS-CoV.” 

Does that mean ocimene will be the next ingredient in over-the-counter cold meds? Honestly, it’s too early to tell. However, we’ll keep our eye out for any additional studies!

SHOP GREEN CRACK

Ocimene is Awesome!

Too cheesy? That’s fair. We’re just really excited about this terpene isolate. The research that led to our Signature Series helped highlight how important, and often overlooked, this isolate really is. 

Want to be the first to know when we make big scientific discoveries about terpenes like Ocimene? Be sure to follow us on Instagram for all the latest news and updates and feel free to Contact Us with any questions.

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