Humulene is a terpene produced by the cannabis plant. Humulene contributes to the herbal aroma of not only cannabis, but of many other plants such as hops, sage, and ginseng. Although the full range of its properties in cannabis requires more study, humulene is believed to have anti-inflammatory benefits. Humulene usually takes a backseat in the terpene profile of most strains, typically appearing in lesser abundance than more dominant terpenes like myrcene, limonene, or caryophyllene.
“Humulene is the third most abundant terpene in the strain Candyland.”
“I wonder what a humulene-dominant strain would feel like.”
What is humulene?
Humulene is one of dozens of terpenes produced by the cannabis plant. Terpenes are fragrant oils secreted in the resinous glands of the plant alongside notable compounds like THC and CBD. Although the scent of each cannabis strain is a composition of many different terpenes, humulene on its own carries an herbal, almost woody aroma. Humulene is also the main terpene found in hops and contributes to the hoppy aroma found in many beers.
Benefits of humulene
The benefits of humulene within the cannabis plant require further study, though several studies have begun to examine this terpene’s medical potential. For example, humulene is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties as well as antibacterial and appetite suppressant effects. Humulene may have additional benefits when combined with other compounds. Researchers studied the effects of a combination of cannabinoids and terpenes including humulene in the treatment of cancer cells. However, more research is needed to fully understand what humulene is capable of in the presence of other cannabis compounds.
Cannabis strains high in humulene
Humulene is one of many terpenes found in the cannabis plant. Although it is a common terpene, it generally appears in lesser abundance than prominent terpenes like myrcene, caryophyllene, and limonene. On average, humulene is the second most abundant terpene in the strain Zkittlez and the third most abundant terpene in the following strains:
- Thin Mint GSC
- Candyland
- Gelato
- Purple Punch
On Leafly’s strain explorer, the presence of humulene is signified by the light green color. When browsing strains, keep an eye out for this light green color if you are curious about cannabis strains with a greater abundance of humulene on average.