Myrcene — β-Myrcene (Acyclic Monoterpene · Analgesic · Sedative · Cannabis Entourage)
Compiled from published pharmacological and botanical literature. Not independently verified by Herbuno. Spotted an error or have a correction? Flag it below →
| Compound | Myrcene (β-Myrcene) |
| Chemical class | Terpenoid — Monoterpene (Acyclic) |
| CAS | 123-35-3 |
| Primary source | Humulus lupulus (hops), Cannabis sativa (hemp), bay laurel, thyme |
| Key applications | Analgesic, sedative, anti-inflammatory, cannabis entourage terpene |
| Claim strength | Moderate (preclinical) |
| Typical form | Hops extract co-constituent; hemp terpene fraction; isolated myrcene |
| Buy from Herbuno | Request availability and bulk pricing → |
Name origin: From Myrcia sphaerocarpa, a Brazilian medicinal plant from which it was first characterised. β-Myrcene is the most common naturally occurring form. Traditional use: Brazilian folk medicine used Myrcia and related plants (including lemongrass and bay laurel, also rich in myrcene) for pain relief and sedation. Hops (Humulus lupulus), rich in myrcene, have been used in European traditions as a sedative and digestive bitter since medieval times. Research trajectory: Myrcene is one of the most abundant terpenes in cannabis and hemp, and is researched within the cannabis entourage effect hypothesis. Analgesic, sedative, and anti-inflammatory properties are documented in animal models. Opioid receptor modulation for potential opioid-sparing analgesic applications is under investigation. Commercial source: Not currently available as a standalone isolate at commercial supplement scale. Contact Herbuno for availability assessment.
Evidence for Myrcene Applications
Analgesic and opioid receptor modulation: Myrcene produces analgesic effects in animal models partially reversed by naloxone (opioid antagonist), suggesting opioid receptor involvement alongside non-opioid mechanisms. Potentiates opioid-induced analgesia in animal studies — basis for claims that myrcene-dominant cannabis strains have enhanced analgesic properties. Claim strength: Moderate (animal data; no human pharmacokinetic data at supplement doses).
Sedative and muscle relaxant: Produces sedative and muscle relaxant effects in animal models via potentiation of pentobarbital sleeping time. Synergises with other sedative botanicals (hops, valerian, passionflower). Relevant for sleep and relaxation formulations via hops extract. Claim strength: Moderate (animal data).
Anti-inflammatory: Inhibits NF-κB and prostaglandin synthesis in cell models. In vivo anti-inflammatory activity in arthritis models documented. Likely contributes to anti-inflammatory effects of hops and hemp extracts. Claim strength: Moderate.
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Dosage & Formulator Specification
No established human supplement dose for isolated myrcene. Cannabis terpene research context: myrcene constitutes 20–65% of total terpene fraction in myrcene-dominant cultivars. Hemp terpene preparations delivering 5–20 mg myrcene per dose are used in cannabis wellness products. Hops extract at 100–300 mg/day co-delivers myrcene alongside humulone and lupulone as part of the full hops complex. Contact Herbuno for myrcene availability and specification.
Frequently Asked Questions — Myrcene
Is myrcene responsible for the sedative effects of cannabis?
Myrcene is frequently cited as the cannabis "couch-lock" terpene, but the scientific basis is weak. Human pharmacokinetic data at cannabis-equivalent supplement doses are insufficient to establish CNS concentrations producing animal-model sedative effects. The sedative association may reflect overall cannabinoid composition of myrcene-dominant cultivars rather than myrcene specifically.
What is the cannabis entourage effect and how does myrcene fit in?
The entourage effect proposes that cannabis terpenes and minor cannabinoids synergistically modify the pharmacological effects of THC and CBD. Myrcene is proposed to enhance sedation and analgesia by facilitating cannabinoid CNS penetration via TRPV1 modulation. Plausible but lacks strong controlled human clinical evidence.
Is myrcene from hops the same as myrcene in cannabis?
Chemically identical. Hops (Humulus lupulus) and cannabis (Cannabis sativa) are in the same plant family (Cannabaceae) and share myrcene, caryophyllene, and humulene. For non-cannabis supplement applications, hops extract is the commercially available, legally unrestricted myrcene source.
Is myrcene a potential opioid-sparing analgesic?
The opioid receptor involvement in myrcene analgesia in animals has attracted interest for botanical opioid-sparing formulations. This is entirely preclinical — no human data confirm opioid-sparing effects from myrcene supplementation. A mechanistically interesting hypothesis but not yet a clinically applicable formulation rationale.
Related compounds: Linalool, Limonene, Carvacrol, Borneol
Claim-strength scale – High = multiple human RCTs; Moderate = limited trials or strong preclinical convergence; Emerging = early-stage lab or animal data.
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