Terpinolene

Terpinolene (4-isopropylidene-1-methylcyclohexene; C₁₀H₁₆) is a monocyclic monoterpene with a complex herbal–piney–floral aroma, dominant in "haze" and certain sativa-leaning cultivars (e.g., Jack Herer, Dutch Treat) though rarely the single most abundant terpene. In preclinical assays it shows antioxidant, mildly sedative, and antiproliferative activity, with a murine study reporting sedative rather than stimulating behavioral effects (Ito & Ito, 2013, Phytomedicine 20:1338) — complicating the popular marketing claim that terpinolene-dominant cultivars are uniformly uplifting. Terpinolene also oxidizes readily, contributing to the rapid aroma loss of poorly stored flower. Evidence level: rodent and in vitro only; no human RCT data. → See also: Terpene, Entourage effect.