Sesquiterpene

Caryophyllene (Beta-Caryophyllene)

Caryophyllene is the only known terpene that binds directly to the CB2 cannabinoid receptor. It has a peppery, spicy, woody aroma and is found in cannabis, black pepper, cloves, and cinnamon. It is associated with anti-inflammatory and pain-modulating effects.

Aroma

Black pepper, spicy, woody, clove

Boiling point

160°C / 320°F

Associated effects

anti-inflammatory, pain-modulating, stress-relief

Also found in

black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, hops

Caryophyllene is unique in cannabis pharmacology: it is the only terpene currently known to bind directly to the body's endocannabinoid system, specifically the CB2 receptor. That receptor is heavily expressed on immune cells, which is why caryophyllene is so consistently associated with anti-inflammatory and pain-modulating effects in cannabis research. The aroma is unmistakable — the spice in black pepper, the warmth in cloves, the back-end heat in many gas-dominant cannabis cultivars. Caryophyllene is unusual in being both a terpene and a phytocannabinoid in functional terms.

Frequently asked questions

Why is caryophyllene called a phytocannabinoid?

Although it is structurally a sesquiterpene, caryophyllene binds directly to the CB2 cannabinoid receptor — a property normally associated with cannabinoids. That receptor binding makes caryophyllene functionally a phytocannabinoid even though its molecular structure is terpenoid.