Here on the forum, in the threads on drying and preparing oils, there are many recommendations to avoid high temperatures to preserve terpenes. I came across a completely new Israeli publication on this topic. It is too voluminous to be posted here, and the coherence of the presentation leaves much to be desired. The full text is available at the link -
www.sciencedirect.com
Briefly for those who don’t have time to read (in brackets what I added on my own) -
The study was conducted on 16 of the most common cannabis terpenes.
The effect of THC on CB1 receptors was measured in living isolated cells, monitoring the evoked electrical potential. Increased THC exposure was determined individually for each terpene.
A practically significant synergistic effect in the last series of experiments was obtained with a terpene/THC ratio “close to natural” of 1/10 (in fact, if you look at the available data on varieties, it is much less) was identified for three terpenes - D-limonene, borneol and sabinene.
(They are found in cannabis infrequently and in small quantities, especially the last two. All three have a boiling point higher than THC, so it is quite difficult to accidentally lose them.)
The rest showed an insignificant or neutral effect, and some even a small negative one, judging by the diagrams (red line under black).
Direct quote from the final part -
"The notable CB1 receptors activation and the desired synergism with THC were shown by only a fraction of the cannabis terpenes, many of which are not the most common ones. Thus, reaching “whole plant” or “full spectrum” composition is not necessarily an advantage. For enhanced therapeutic effects, medical cannabis should be rich in the terpenes most suitable for activation of receptors involved with the specific indication to be treated. Developing genetics rich in selected terpenes is doable, but requires major efforts and time. Enrichment of cannabis extracts with selected terpenes, sourced from cannabis or from other plants, is much easier and applicable to tablets and capsules produced from such extracts.
The use of selected terpenes may enable reducing the THC dose in some treatments, and as a result, potentially minimizing the THC-related adverse effects. This would also help in adjusting the treatment to more sensitive populations such as children and elderly. Enrichment with selected terpenes may allow for composition adjustment to personal needs and to changes during chronic use, such as for daytime versus for sleep."
I think that even without their prompting, someone will want to engage in modification, and not only of extracts. Terpenes dissolve well in alcohol and a weak solution can be gently sprinkled on the buds. Terpenes are quite cheap and easily available for purchase both in pure form and in the composition of natural essential oils in online stores for those who like to make perfumes.
And if anyone is interested in more medical applications with an emphasis on CBD -
www.intechopen.com
other types of terpenes are already at work there.
Selected cannabis terpenes synergize with THC to produce increased CB1 receptor activation
The cannabis plant exerts its pharmaceutical activity primarily by the binding of cannabinoids to two G protein-coupled cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and…
The study was conducted on 16 of the most common cannabis terpenes.
The effect of THC on CB1 receptors was measured in living isolated cells, monitoring the evoked electrical potential. Increased THC exposure was determined individually for each terpene.
A practically significant synergistic effect in the last series of experiments was obtained with a terpene/THC ratio “close to natural” of 1/10 (in fact, if you look at the available data on varieties, it is much less) was identified for three terpenes - D-limonene, borneol and sabinene.
(They are found in cannabis infrequently and in small quantities, especially the last two. All three have a boiling point higher than THC, so it is quite difficult to accidentally lose them.)
The rest showed an insignificant or neutral effect, and some even a small negative one, judging by the diagrams (red line under black).
Direct quote from the final part -
"The notable CB1 receptors activation and the desired synergism with THC were shown by only a fraction of the cannabis terpenes, many of which are not the most common ones. Thus, reaching “whole plant” or “full spectrum” composition is not necessarily an advantage. For enhanced therapeutic effects, medical cannabis should be rich in the terpenes most suitable for activation of receptors involved with the specific indication to be treated. Developing genetics rich in selected terpenes is doable, but requires major efforts and time. Enrichment of cannabis extracts with selected terpenes, sourced from cannabis or from other plants, is much easier and applicable to tablets and capsules produced from such extracts.
The use of selected terpenes may enable reducing the THC dose in some treatments, and as a result, potentially minimizing the THC-related adverse effects. This would also help in adjusting the treatment to more sensitive populations such as children and elderly. Enrichment with selected terpenes may allow for composition adjustment to personal needs and to changes during chronic use, such as for daytime versus for sleep."
I think that even without their prompting, someone will want to engage in modification, and not only of extracts. Terpenes dissolve well in alcohol and a weak solution can be gently sprinkled on the buds. Terpenes are quite cheap and easily available for purchase both in pure form and in the composition of natural essential oils in online stores for those who like to make perfumes.
And if anyone is interested in more medical applications with an emphasis on CBD -
The United Chemicals of Cannabis: Beneficial Effects of Cannabis Phytochemicals on the Brain and Cognition
‘Medicinal cannabis’ can be defined as pharmaceutical grade cannabis-based products used for the treatment of illness. Beneficial treatment effects of cannabidiol (CBD), a major non-intoxicating compound isolated from the cannabis plant, have been shown in multiple states of cognitive...
www.intechopen.com