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What is Cymene?

Cumin containing Cymene

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As studies on cannabis progress, more knowledge unfolds about the large number of naturally occurring compounds that cannabis brings with it. The most popular of these natural compounds are usually cannabinoids like CBD and THC, and some popular terpenes like linalool, myrcene, and pinene.

Nevertheless, other less popular terpenes also carry an incredible load of medicinal properties and significantly influence the synergistic effect generated when all the terpenes and cannabinoids work together. This effect is commonly known as the entourage effect.

One of these secondary terpenes is a monoterpene called Cymene, also known as Para Cymene, present in various plants. It turns out to be much more common in our daily diet than we would initially believe.

Cymene Terpene

Cymene is a natural compound associated with a subset of aromatic carbons related to monoterpenes. The most common form of this monoterpene is p-Cymene or Para Cymene, although you can also find it in other states such as o-cymene and m-cymene. You will find Cymene in more than 100 different plants and over 200 foods. This secondary monoterpene is present in a wide variety of essential oils, especially cumin and thyme.

You will also find p-cymene in low concentrations in various cannabis strains, angelica root, basil, carrot seed, and bay leaf oil. You can also find Cymene in the essential oils of grapefruit, anise, oregano, eucalyptus, coriander, and mace.

What does Cymene do?

Because p-cymene is a secondary monoterpene, we still need more research on all this compound can do. However, some previous studies confirm various functions Para cymene can effectively exert in our general health and daily lives.

One of the things that P Cymene can do is reduce the pain and inflammation of wounds on which it’s applied. This is because this monoterpene is easily absorbed through the skin and can relieve pain naturally without the side effects that some drugs or painkillers can generate in some people.

Cymene can also improve our mood, improve retention and memory. However, more information is still required to classify it as a treatment for these conditions. This terpene also can reduce blood pressure by inhibiting the contraction of the heart muscle.

Finally, Cymene has also become popular in the food industry due to its known antifungal and antimicrobial properties. It was considered viable for adding to waxy fruit wrappers to prolong fruit life after being packed.

Cymene Terpene Effects

By being part of the terpene profile of various strains of cannabis, p-cymene can provide specific particular variants that, together with other terpenes and cannabinoids, can significantly influence the final effect we perceive from these strains.

We must also highlight that this terpene by itself can trigger a series of effects that can better deal with certain physical and psychological conditions in human beings and even function as a treatment for certain specific conditions.

As we already mentioned, some studies indicate that Para cymene can generate anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, increasing the time in which our brain processes pain signals from the nerves due to its antinociceptive effects.

In conjunction with other terpenes such as terpineol and linalool, p-cymene also shows antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that could generate potentially functional effects to combat some pathogens or infections. Para cymene can also degenerate antidepressant or mood-altering effects that could help certain people when administered in reasonable amounts.

Cymene Uses

The food industry commonly uses cymene, or p-cymene, as a flavoring agent in certain foods, beverages, and confections, making this terpene a much more common natural compound in our daily lives than we might think.

The industry of toiletries and products for personal use also uses it to manufacture certain cosmetics, cleaning products, and fragrances in the perfume industry due to its sweet and citrusy smell. In addition to these uses, cymene also has several medicinal benefits within the cannabis world due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anxiolytic, and even anti-cancer properties.

Cymene Benefits

This monoterpene can generate some specific effects that can translate into benefits for the general health of the human body. This means that p-cymene carries a large potentially medicinal load that can work perfectly to treat specific conditions or diseases.

Although the whole series of benefits that this extraordinary naturally occurring substance can bring to our health is only beginning to be understood, studies reveal and confirm some of these beneficial properties such as:

Antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties: p cymene proves to be effective in fighting fungi such as candida and other types of fungi, making it a popular constituent in specific topical fungal treatments. A study conducted on unpasteurized apple juice showed that this terpene could work effectively by controlling E. coli.

Neuroprotective and antioxidant properties: Some studies classify p cymene as a natural antioxidant and neuroprotective since it can reduce oxidative stress in brain cells.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory: This naturally occurring compound demonstrated analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties in two different studies conducted in mice, where it significantly increases pain threshold. In turn, p cymene modulates cytokine production, reducing pain by activating opioid receptors and functioning as a pain inhibitor.

Anticancer properties: When combined with certain metallic agents, cymene demonstrated anticancer properties since this organometallic cymene effectively induced the death of cancer cells via apoptosis in ovarian cancer and lung cancer in a study carried out on laboratory-created human cells.

Memory-Boosting and Mood-Regulating Properties: P cymene shows to prolong the life of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, resulting in improved memory and attention. In turn, this terpene may have the ability to increase motivation and help with symptoms related to ADHD or mood disorders. However, more research is needed to classify p cymene as a viable treatment for these conditions.

Cymene Smell

The smell of Cymene is predominantly sweet and citrusy, with particular notes such as carrot or orange. Some describe a harsh chemical odor with some hints of oxidized citrus lemon and hints of wood. Cymene occurs naturally in many plants and is a constituent that significantly influences the final smell we perceive from them.

In nature, you will find p cymene in plants such as ajowan, basil, anise, angelica, allspice, dill leaf, bay leaf, bergamot, blackberry, cinnamon, and some natural oils such as clove oil, among others. The smell of cymene is one of its most popular characteristics and a reason why cosmetics, grooming, and edible industries prominently use it.

Cymene Strains

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